Icy roads cause multiple crashes

Published 10:43 am Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Freeborn County Sheriff's Office deputies and firefighters with the Albert Lea and Hayward fire departments respond Tuesday morning to a car that rolled into the median on Interstate 90 about a mile west of Hayward. Sarah Stultz/Austin Daily Herald

Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputies and firefighters with the Albert Lea and Hayward fire departments respond Tuesday morning to a car that rolled into the median on Interstate 90 about a mile west of Hayward. Sarah Stultz/Austin Daily Herald

Dozens of road accidents were reported Monday and Tuesday as drivers dealt with a large amount of ice and drifting snow.

Local and state officials dealt with several crashes in Mower County Tuesday, including a rollover on I-90 westbound near mile marker 199. Jody Lenton, 53, of Norfolk, Neb., reportedly lost control on the ice on I-90, according to a State Patrol report. She had minor injuries after Grand Meadow Ambulance and Fire Department officials arrived to help her.

Mower County Sheriff Terese Amazi said sheriff’s deputies dealt with several minor crashes, fender-benders and rollovers Monday and Tuesday. Amazi said drivers need to take caution and not drive too fast on intermittently icy roads.

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“It was treacherous out there and it’s going to continue,” she said this morning. “Drivers need to be cautious on the roads. Don’t drive with your cruise control on.”

A 59-year-old woman from Mesa, Ariz., received minor injuries Tuesday morning after a sport-utility vehicle reportedly lost control on an icy portion of Interstate 90, left the roadway and rolled about a mile west of the Hayward exit.

Carlyn Narruhn was transported to the Albert Lea hospital for her injuries.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the driver of the vehicle, a 2006 Ford Expedition, was listed as Kevin Sonden, 24, of Storm Lake, Iowa.

Narruhn was a passenger, along with Sinaleen Narruhn, 26, of Storm Lake, and Kolber Ohlet, 38, residence unknown.

Carlyn and Ohlet were reportedly not wearing their seat belts.

Crashes also were reported Tuesday morning on westbound I-90 between Minnesota Highway 13 and the Bridge Avenue exit in Albert Lea.

A vehicle reportedly spun out on southbound Interstate 35 between I-90 and the Clarks Grove exit, and a semitrailer reportedly jackknifed on southbound I-35 between the Geneva and Ellendale exits.

A vehicle also reportedly spun out on eastbound I-90 between Minnesota highways 109 and 13.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation advised no unnecessary travel on Interstate 35 between Owatonna and the Iowa border because of icy roads.

“Motorists should beware of blowing and drifting snow and need to drive with extreme caution in this area,” a news release stated.

Road conditions on both I-35 and I-90 were listed as difficult, according to MnDOT.

The I-90 eastbound left lane was closed at Mower County Road 1 after several vehicles were reported in the ditch and a semi jackknifed.

MnDOT stated the road between Dexter and Marion was slippery, too.