State Patrol Busy With Hundreds Of Crashes, St. Cloud Police Advise Caution

UNDATED - Tough travel conditions have kept troopers with the Minnesota State Patrol very busy.

The State Patrol says they responded to just over 400 crashes statewide between 2:00 p.m. yesterday (Thursday) and 10:00 a.m. this morning.  One person was killed in a crash in southern Minnesota. Thirty-two of those crashes also had injuries.

The State Patrol also responded to over 1,300 vehicles that went off the road and into the ditch.

“We’re receiving reports from veteran troopers in several areas of the state of conditions that are as bad as they’ve seen in 25 years,” said State Patrol Lt. Col. Matt Langer. “We need motorists to avoid traveling unless it’s absolutely necessary. It is simply too dangerous right now and MnDOT needs room to clear the roads of snow and ice.”

The State Patrol expects road conditions to remain treacherous for the next several days.

Meanwhile, the St. Cloud Police Department says that even though the roads may be plowed, the conditions remain very slippery.  The street department says because it's so cold, the chemicals being put down on the roads is not helping.

Use extreme caution if you have to travel.