Fatal crash closes stretch of Highway 62 near Twin Cities airport
Updated: 12:15 p.m.
One person died in a crash early Monday that prompted a lengthy closure of a stretch of State Highway 62 — the Crosstown — near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
The State Patrol said the crash happened just before 3:30 a.m. on the freeway near 34th Avenue South, just north of the airport.
Authorities said an eastbound pickup truck towing a trailer went into the ditch and collided with a bridge pillar.
The Patrol said a passenger in the truck — a 21-year-old man from Colorado — died at the scene. The driver, a 34-year-old Texas man, suffered life-threatening injuries.
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A Minneapolis fire truck and a State Patrol squad collided while responding to the call, near the scene of the initial crash.
The Minneapolis Fire Department said its ladder truck was attempting to turn around when it collided with the squad.
The Patrol said both vehicles had their emergency lights activated. The trooper suffered minor injuries.
Fire department officials said no firefighters were injured; the ladder truck had to be towed from the scene.
Highway 62 remained closed for hours after the crash. By 10 a.m., the westbound lanes had reopened but eastbound traffic was still being diverted.
By midday, the eastbound lanes had reopened.
Find traffic updates on the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s 511 website.