Motorists are apparently still adjusting to the change of seasons, as snowfall-making its second appearance to the Brainerd lakes area Sunday-resulted in icy road conditions and numerous vehicle crashes.
Parts of the lakes area saw as much as an inch of snow-enough to make the roads slippery and to make driving more difficult. Weather spotters for the National Weather Service in Duluth reported 1 inch of snow fell 7 miles northwest of Brainerd and another inch fell at the Pine River Dam.
With the icy conditions, the Minnesota State Patrol responded to 35 incidents from 3 p.m. Sunday to 1 p.m. Monday in the Brainerd District. Of the 35 calls, three were fatalities; six were personal injury crashes; 18 property damage crashes; and eight vehicles that were off the road.
The three fatalities include a 47-year-old Brainerd man who was killed in a rollover at 11:25 a.m. Monday on Highway 25 and Crow Wing County Road 144; a 60-year-old Ogilvie man who was killed in a rear-end crash at 9:54 a.m. Monday on Highway 47 and Highway 23 in Kanabec County; and a 68-year-old Hillman man who was killed at 8:05 p.m. Sunday in a rollover where he was ejected from it on Highway 27, east of Lastrup.
The state patrol reported the roads were dry on Highway 25 when the Brainerd man was killed.
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Four of the six crashes the state patrol responded to are:
• James V. Kilts, 20, was injured when the Ford Bronco he was driving lost control and rolled into the ditch at 8:10 a.m. Monday on Highway 371 in Crow Wing County. Kilts was northbound on Highway 371, when the Bronco lost control, veered to the right and rolled into the ditch, the state patrol reported. Kilts was transported to Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd for non-life-threatening injuries.
The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office assisted the state patrol at the scene.
• A father and his daughter were injured when the Ford Explorer they were in lost control and rolled at 8:39 a.m. Monday on Highway 18 and Burgwald Road in Brainerd. The state patrol said the Ford, driven by David M. Bardwell, 64, Aitkin, was traveling westbound on Highway 18, when it lost control, veered to the right and rolled into the ditch. Bardwell and his daughter, Breanna R. Bardwell, 18, Aitkin, were transported to the Brainerd hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. They both were wearing their seat belts.
The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office and the Brainerd Fire Department assisted the state patrol at the scene. Firefighters helped remove a patient from a vehicle and provided stand-by assistance as the vehicle was leaking fuel.
• Jay H. Thompson, 52, Maple Grove, was injured at 7:46 p.m. Sunday when the Toyota 4 Runner he was driving lost control on the icy road on Highway 169 north of Garrison and rolled. The Toyota was southbound on Highway 169 when it lost control where it went across the road, into the ditch and rolled over. Thompson was transported to Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin for non-life-threatening injuries. Thompson was wearing his seat belt.
The Aitkin County Sheriff's Office assisted the state patrol at the scene.
The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office assisted the state patrol at the scene.
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• Colleen D. Westlin, 81, Crystal, was injured at 3:42 p.m. Sunday when the Pontiac Vibe she was driving lost control on the icy road on Highway 6, south of Emily and rolled. Westlin was traveling south on Highway 6, when the Pontiac lost control. The vehicle went off the road, into the ditch and rolled over, the state patrol reported. Westlin was taken to Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby for non-life-threatening injuries. She was wearing her seat belt.
The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office assisted the state patrol at the scene.
As motorists are gearing up for Thanksgiving travel, Mother Nature has rain showers and sleet in the forecast for the Brainerd area. The NWS anticipates a slight chance of rain showers and sleet before 3 p.m. Wednesday, with a chance of rain and snow between 3-5 p.m. and then a slight chance of snow showers after 5 p.m. Temperatures will be near 37 for a high, with a southwest wind of 5-10 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday night there is a 20 percent chance of snow showers before midnight, with a low of 24.
However, starting Thursday there will be no rain, sleet or snow, only dry weather which will hold out through Monday, according to the NWS.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5851. Follow me at www.twitter.com/jennewsgirl on Twitter.
Winter driving safety tips
• Slow down and drive to the weather/road conditions. The posted speed limit is reduced when conditions become poor. Duty to drive with due care is the basic speed law.
• Always wear your seatbelt as it could help keep you alive and avoid or reduce injuries if you are involved in a crash.
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• Increase your stopping distance between vehicles.
• Turn on your headlights.
• Don't use cruise control on slippery roadways.
• Don't travel if conditions are poor, if you can avoid it.
• Make sure all your vehicle windows are clear from snow and ice.
• Have four winter type tires with good tread depth.
• Check 511mn.org or call 511, for updated road conditions.
• Eliminate distractions while driving.
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(Source: Minnesota State Patrol)
