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Two people died in separate crashes involving semis on Monday morning on icy highways in southern Minnesota, in the wake of freezing rain, sleet and snow overnight.

At about 2 a.m., two northbound semis collided in the median along Interstate 35 in Freeborn County, near Clarks Grove. The State Patrol said one of the drivers — a 46-year-old man from Miami — died from his injuries. The other driver suffered injuries that the Patrol said were not life-threatening.

Then, just before 7:30 a.m., a semi and a box truck collided head-on along U.S. Highway 59 in Murray County, north of Slayton. The crash happened near the intersection with State Highway 30.

The Patrol said a 58-year-old man from Minneota, who was driving the northbound semi, died in the crash. The driver of the southbound box truck, a 61-year-old man from Tyler, was taken to a hospital in Sioux Falls with life-threatening injuries.

The icy roads caused more than 20 southern Minnesota school districts to start classes two hours late on Monday morning — and a handful closed or moved to online learning for the day.

That wintry mix left roads and sidewalks icy from Ortonville to Willmar to the Twin Cities, and points south. 

For much of the Monday morning commute, the Minnesota Department of Transportation advised no travel on some highways between the Twin Cities and Mankato, including parts of U.S. Highway 169. West of the Twin Cities, the 

 reported just before 6 a.m. that U.S. Highway 212 was closed in both directions between Glencoe and Olivia “due to icy conditions and multiple vehicles in the ditch.” The road remained closed as of 8:45 a.m., but reopened later in the morning.

MnDOT reported State Highway 19 between Gaylord and Henderson was also closed for a time amid the icy conditions.

School districts starting two hours late on Monday, Dec. 22

School districts moving to online learning on Monday, Dec. 22

School districts closed on Monday, Dec. 22

These state transportation departments offer live updates on road conditions and crashes:

For bus and light rail riders in the Twin Cities, Metro Transit offers weather-related updates on its 

Is there is snow emergency in effect for St. Paul or Minneapolis? Find out on the 

If you’re planning to fly from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport or another airport around the region — or if you are expecting visitors to arrive by plane — airports offer flight status updates online:

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Andrew Krueger

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Two people died in separate crashes involving semis on Monday morning on icy highways in southern Minnesota, in the wake of freezing rain, sleet and snow overnight.


Two killed in crashes on icy roads after freezing rain in southern Minnesota

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