Melrose, MN Auto Accidents Involved Small Cars and Semi Trucks
(Melrose, MN) A rollover crash close to Melrose on Interstate 94 led to a second crash involving a semi-trailer and a car. The initial rollover accident occurred Saturday morning after a State Trooper attempted to stop a Hyundai for traffic violations. The Hyundai, eastbound on I-94, fled and rear-ended a Ford Escape who was pulling over for the emergency lights. The Ford rolled multiple times before stopping in a field. The driver of the Hyundai, 20-year-old Brenden Matthew Blank, of St. Louis, MO, was uninjured. The driver of the Escape, 35-year-old Megan Ann Ritter of Cloquet and passenger 59-year-old Juanita Elizabeth Shell of Grey Eagle were taken to St. Cloud Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
The second crash took place shortly after the first, two miles down the road. The Minnesota State Patrol says a Cadillac was driving East on I 94 milepost 139 near Freeport, MN. The Cadillac stopped for backed up traffic when it was rear-ended by a Silverado. The driver of the Cadillac, 68-year-old Roger Allen Mclaen, and passenger, 65-year-old Caryn B Mclaen, both of Forman, ND were transported by ambulance to Melrose Hospital. The driver of the Silverado, 40-year-old Mark Daniel Goodman of Grand Forks, ND, was transported to Sauk Centre Hospital.
A third crash happened around noon Saturday near mile marker 137. Tim Atwater of Alexandria says he was driving eastbound on I94, following his father's car. He says they noticed the rollover accident and slowed down and got into the left lane. It's shortly after that when Atwater says a semi-truck crashed into the back of his Chevy Sonic car. He says the semi truck's front end lifted slightly upon impact and the vehicle veered into the ditch. Atwater's Sonic was hit in the back left corner. No one was injured in this third crash.
The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating each incident.