UPDATED: Chain-Reaction Collision on McAndrews Road Sends One to Hospital, Driver Cited
Updated at 2:45 PM on August 27th.
UPDATE - A chain-reaction collision involving three vehicles on westbound McAndrews Road between Foliage Avenue and Galaxie Avenue occurred around 3:50 PM today, leading to significant traffic disruption and sending one person to the hospital.
According to the police report from the Apple Valley Police Department, the incident began when the driver of the Mercedes Benz Sprinter Van, who was traveling in the right lane, attempted to merge left after his GPS instructed him to turn. Upon realizing that traffic was stopped ahead, he struck the rear of a Ford F150. The impact forced the Ford F150 into the rear of a KIA Sorento, the lead vehicle in the line. All vehicles were westbound in the right lane when the collision occurred, with the Ford and KIA already stopped in traffic.
According to the police report, the driver of the Ford F150, whose vehicle was struck from behind, complained of neck pain and was transported by Allina EMS to a local hospital. Due to the severity of the impact, the front airbags deployed in the Sprinter Van and the Ford F150, and all three vehicles sustained disabling damage, requiring them to be towed from the scene by Dick's Valley Service.
The police report states that the Sprinter Van came to a rest on the median of the roadway, while the Ford and the KIA remained in the right lane. The driver of Unit #1 was cited for failing to drive with due care. Westbound McAndrews Road was closed at Foliage Avenue as crews worked to investigate the cause of the accident and clear the wreckage.
A crash diagram was provided by the Apple Valley Police Department police report.
ORIGINAL STORY - APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA—A multi-vehicle accident occurred around 3:50 PM on Monday, August 26, 2024, on westbound McAndrews Road, just east of Galaxie Avenue. The crash, which involved four vehicles, led to the brief closure of westbound McAndrews at Foliage Avenue as authorities worked to assess the situation and clear the scene.
Emergency personnel from the Apple Valley Police Department and Apple Valley Fire Department arrived quickly. Allina Health transported at least one, possibly two, individuals to a local hospital via ambulance. The extent of their injuries remains unclear at this time.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. Authorities haven’t released further details regarding the factors leading to the collision, but once we learn more, we will provide an update.
Written by: Will Wight
