Pipe meant for Line 3 project strewn in ditch from collision south of Pine River

060921.PEJ.PipelineCrash (1).JPG — At least three massive pipes for the Line 3 pipeline project were in the grass near County Road 44 and State Highway 371 south of Pine River following a collision Saturday, June 5. Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

By Travis G. Grimler

June 06, 2021 at 10:00 AM

Several large pipes for the Line 3 oil pipeline replacement project ended up strewn in the grass alongside the intersection of County Road 44 and State Highway 371 south of Pine River after a collision between a truck hauling them and a vehicle with a camper.

The collision occurred around 1 p.m. Saturday, June 5. A crew was working to collect the massive pipes from the ditch around 1:30 p.m. as Cass County deputies and State Patrol troopers provided traffic control as needed.

1/2: A man can be seen offering cold water to Cass County deputies at the scene of a collision just off State Highway 371 south of Pine River on Saturday, June 5. Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

2/2: Straps and heavy equipment prepared to remove massive pipes from a ditch near the bridge next to County Road 44 south of Pine River on Highway 371 on Saturday, June 5 after a collision with a truck hauling pipeline for the Line 3 project. Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

By Travis G. Grimler

Travis Grimler began work at the Echo Journal Jan. 2 of 2013 while the publication was still split in two as the Pine River Journal and Lake Country Echo. He is a full time reporter/photographer/videographer for the paper and operates primarily out of the northern stretch of the coverage area (Hackensack to Jenkins).

Pipe meant for Line 3 project strewn in ditch from collision south of Pine River

Camper involved in incident removed from scene as crews prepare to move pipe.