UPDATED: Multi-Vehicle Crash in Apple Valley, MN Sends Multiple to Hospitals, Investigation Ongoing
Updated - 10:35 am on April 1st.
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA - Around 10:30 PM on Friday, March 29, 2024, Apple Valley Fire Department, Lakeville Fire Department, Apple Valley Police Department, Lakeville Police Department, and Minnesota State Patrol were all dispatched out for a multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of 160th Street West and Flagstaff Avenue West in Apple Valley, Minnesota. Due to the number of injuries/extent, medics from the Burnsville Fire Department were called in, and Allina Health was already dispatched to the scene. Allina had also called in flight to this incident, but they were eventually canceled.
Two vehicles involved in the crash were located on westbound 160th Street West, one vehicle was located in the eastbound lanes of 160th Street West, and one vehicle was located off the road and over a small hill in the neighboring townhome complex, located at the end of Flatfish Lane. An unknown number of people were sent to area hospitals, with an unconfirmed report of at least one person in critical condition.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and Minnesota State Patrol and the Apple Valley Police Department were investigating the incident. We spoke with a couple of witnesses to the crash; one stated they were sitting on northbound Flagstaff Avenue, attempting to turn left onto westbound 160th Street. Their light had turned green, and after waiting several seconds, he started to go when two cars going westbound on 160th Avenue flew through the light, which was red in their direction. The witness said they saw a black SUV slowing down for the red light, then a second silver, black SUV that was not stopping traveling at a possible high rate of speed. The two vehicles missed their car only a few feet. The silver SUV had hit the black SUV just before entering the intersection. The black SUV continued going westbound and then went off the road to the northwest and over the hill into the neighboring townhome complex. The silver SUV collided head-on with a green sports car in either the center or left turn lane of eastbound 160th Street to go northbound on Flagstaff Avenue. The collision between the silver SUV and the green sports car sent the green sports car into the westbound lanes of 160th Street facing southward. The silver SUV stopped in the eastbound lanes of 160th Street, facing the wrong way. This, again, is a witness account. The true cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Update - April 1, 2024
According to the Apple Valley Police, the cause of the crash was a red light violation. The driver of that vehicle was issued a citation. We are working to confirm which vehicle that was. It is unknown if drugs or alcohol were a factor in this crash. The Apple Valley Police also confirmed for us that two people were transported to the hospital due to the crash, but the extent of their injuries was not known. We will update this article again if we find out which vehicle received the citation or if any other updates are available.
