Winter storm a factor in number of crashes Wednesday in Willmar, Kandiyohi County

Dale Morin, West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn.
·2 min read

Dec. 22—WILLMAR

— A dozen crashes were reported Wednesday in Willmar and other areas of Kandiyohi County amid the all-day snowfall, including a report of a rolled over semitrailer in New London.

The semitrailer rollover was reported at 10:17 a.m. Wednesday near the intersection of U.S. Highway 71 and Minnesota Highway 9 Northeast.

According to the Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office daily media report, the occupants in the semi were unable to get out of the vehicle themselves.

No injuries were listed. However, multiple agencies responded to the crash, including New London Fire and Ambulance, Lakes Area Responders, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Kandiyohi County Rescue Squad.

Another crash involving a tractor-trailer was reported within the hour at 10:54 a.m. at the intersection of Kandiyohi County Road 8 and 15th Avenue Southeast south of Kandiyohi.

An 18-year-old male driver from Atwater suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to CentraCare — Rice Memorial Hospital for treatment, according to a news release from the Sheriff's Office on Wednesday.

The 45-year-old semi driver from New London was uninjured.

According to the media report, the 18-year-old's vehicle T-boned into the semitrailer.

Sgt. Troy Christanson, of the Minnesota State Patrol's district headquartered in Marshall, shared in a Twitter post that from 4 a.m. to 12 p.m. Dec. 21, the State Patrol responded to four crashes, 10 vehicles that ran off road and one jackknifed semi. That district comprises 13 southwestern Minnesota counties, including Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Redwood and Yellow Medicine counties.

Several other crashes on icy and snow-covered streets were reported between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the city of Willmar, according to the Willmar Police Department's media report Wednesday.

Earlier Wednesday, a two-vehicle crash with minor injuries was reported at 12:20 a.m. in Willmar at the intersection of of 14th Avenue and 15th Street Southeast. According to the report, two parties were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Raymond Ambulance responded to that crash.

A two-vehicle crash involving a pickup truck and sedan was reported at 2:03 p.m. Wednesday in the 17000 block of Minnesota Highway 9 Northeast in New London. According to the Sheriff's Office report, neither driver was injured and both vehicles were towed.

A winter storm warning remains in effect until noon Thursday, when a blizzard warning begins and remains in effect for the region until Saturday morning, according to the latest information from the National Weather Service.

Lonnie Hoffman, Minnesota Department of Transportation's superintendent for District 8,

urged drivers to stay off the roads

due to the dangerous conditions.