MAPLE GROVE, Minn. — Minnesota's extended dip into the deep freeze is making life tough, and dangerous, for drivers across the Twin Cities metro and other parts of the state.
All lanes of Highway 610 westbound are closed after a serious rollover crash a bit before 6 a.m. on the stretch between Maple Grove Parkway and I-94. The road is a busy morning commuter artery, so drivers should choose other routes before getting caught in a backup.
Crews were able to reopen 610 after removing the vehicle and cleaning up the crash scene.
That one wasn't the only crash causing problems this frigid Tuesday morning. Black ice, combined with a light coating of snow is making things extremely slick. A motorist crashed and hit the ditch in the south metro on southbound I-35E near Wagon Wheel Trail in Mendota Heights. A number of incidents on I-494 in the south metro had traffic backed up significantly on the busy interstate.
The treacherous commute follows a similar scenario that unfolded Monday morning, with the State Patrol reporting 314 crashes between 5 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., one of them fatal and another 33 ending with injury. Troopers responded to another 64 incidents of drivers spinning out or leaving the road.
Drivers are advised to slow down, increase following distance and use a light foot on the accelerator. The State Patrol says using cruise control is a bad idea, as it can kick in on icy bridges or overpasses, causing your vehicle to spin out.
Before you leave for any destination, check out the KARE 11 traffic page for maps and current traffic conditions.