UPDATE: Fatal alcohol-related head-on crash on southbound I-35E in Eagan closes road for several hours
Update
UPDATE - 8:30 PM on July 15th: In the latest update from the Minnesota State Patrol, we have learned that the driver of the Toyota Celica has passed away from the injuries they sustained in the crash. The three victims in the GMC Yukon who were hit head-on by the Toyota Celica have also been upgraded to now having life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash.
Full Story
EAGAN, MINNESOTA - Around 12:10 AM on Saturday, July 15, 2023, a serious crash was reported on southbound I-35E just before Cliff Road. Initial reports stated there were at least three vehicles involved in the crash, but would turn out to be just two vehicles. The crash was blocking all southbound lanes causing southbound I-35E to be closed at the Cliff Road exit ramp. Emergency personnel would eventually close southbound I-35E at Diffley Road, and traffic was forced to detour from there. Just after 1 AM on Saturday, July 15th, it was announced that southbound I-35E would officially close for an indefinite amount of time while the Minnesota State Patrol reconstructed the accident. The road was officially reopened around 4:30 AM after the accident reconstruction was finished and the vehicles were cleared from the scene.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a Toyota Celica entered southbound I-35E the wrong way from Cliff Road going northbound in the southbound lanes. Upon entering Interstate I-35E, the Toyota Celica hit a GMC Yukon that was hauling a boat and trailer head-on. The GMC Yukon was traveling southbound on I-35E approaching Cliff Road right before the accident occurred. The 28-year-old male who was said to be driving the Toyota Celica was taken to a regional hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver was said to be wearing a seatbelt and the airbags did deploy in the car. The Minnesota State Patrol says alcohol was involved in the crash. The driver was the only occupant of the Toyota.
There were three occupants in the GMC Yukon that were hit head-on by the Toyota. The driver of the Yukon was a 60-year-old female who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and the two passengers were a 25-year-old female and a 57-year-old male who both sustained non-life-threatening injuries. All three were taken to a regional hospital for their injuries.
The Eagan Police Department, Eagan Fire Department, Minnesota State Patrol, several M Health Ambulances, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation all responded to the incident.
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