ANOKA, Minn. — Auto body shops across the metro will see a spike in business in coming days, after dozens of crashes during Monday's morning commute.
Frigid temps are leading to patches of black ice, and a coating of light snow in some areas made road surfaces extremely slick. The eastbound lanes of Highway 10 were completely closed near the junction with Highway 169 around 6:30 a.m. after a handful of crashes there, and traffic was constricted on I-94 westbound after a crash in the Lowry Tunnel. An ambulance had to be called for that one.
In the south metro the Carver County Sheriff's Office posted on its Twitter account that Highway 212 was closed in both directions at Kelly Road due to a fatal crash. The road was reopened shortly after 9 a.m.
The State Patrol says between 5 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Monday troopers responded to 314 crashes statewide, with one fatality and 33 people injured. Another 64 vehicles spun out or left the roadway.
If you have to be on the roads this morning add extra time to your trip, and check planned routes to see if they are impacted by crashes or incidents. Slow down, allow for more following distance, and the State Patrol frequently reminds drivers that using cruise control during the winter season is not a great idea. It can kick in on icy spots, especially on bridge decks and overpasses.
For the latest on driving conditions and current incidents, check the traffic page at kare11.com.