Dangerous driving across much of Minn.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A slow-moving winter storm continues to make driving a challenge across a broad swath of Minnesota.

The State Patrol had received nearly 360 crash reports by 2 p.m. Monday, including close to 60 with injuries, though none fatal or serious. That's in addition to more than 400 vehicles that slid off the roads.

"We ask people to be patient.  We all know that it's going to take a long time to get around on days like today, so don't push the envelope when you're driving," Lt. Eric Roeske with the MN State Patrol said.

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The Minnesota Department of Transportation reports difficult driving conditions across much of western and southern Minnesota. No travel is advised in south-central Minnesota from Monday evening until conditions improve Tuesday.

Between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. the State Patrol logged 359 property damage crashes, 57 personal injury crashes, and 416 vehicles. In the nine County Metro alone, there were 187 property damage crashes, 29 personal injury crashes, and 158 vehicles off the road.  

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety shut down all four lanes of I-35 southbound near Lakeville late Monday afternoon. The decision was made after a semi-trailer truck jackknifed and triggered a pileup near the 185th Street exit, which is also exit 84. 

The interstate was closed at exit 87, which is the Crystal Lake Road exit in Burnsville due to accidents and poor conditions there as well.

Traffic cams showed three semi-trailer trucks, three vehicles, and another truck involved in the incident, which happened around 11:10 a.m. After vehicles were towed and the roadway cleaned up I-35W was reopened around 12:30 p.m.

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Lakeville wasn't the only trouble spot.

• I-94 westbound was reduced to one lane due to a multi-vehicle accident in the Lowry Tunnel. Nine vehicles were involved in the tangle, 3 of them commercial vehicles. The center and left lanes were closed for almost two hours, and traffic resumed in all three lanes by 1:30 p.m.
• I-35W Southbound has been completely closed near Faribault and MN 60, and near Albert Lea as well, due to a vehicle pileups late this morning.  
• The right shoulder of I-694 westbound is blocked between MN 5 and Exit 57 due to an overturned vehicle. Cleanup is expected to take two hours.
• Due to snow and ice, a Traffic Management Program is in effect for traffic arriving Minneapolis-St Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain Airport. As of early afternoon delayed arrivals were running an average of 1 hour and 14 minutes behind schedule.

"It only takes one person to make a mistake or drive too fast that can cause a major pile up involving multiple drivers," Lt. Roeske explained. 

The storm has also triggered snow emergencies in the communities of Minneapolis and Robbinsdale, activating emergency parking rules.  

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