A brutal winter storm caused a large semi-truck to slide directly into the path of a South Dakota Highway Patrol cruiser on a slippery Interstate.
According to the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 12:08 p.m on Thursday, law enforcement officers were dispatched to Interstate 90 near MP 395 for an injury crash involving a South Dakota Highway Patrol vehicle and a semi-tractor/trailer.
Snowy conditions led to this collision between a semi-truck and a State Trooper on March 18th. (Source: South Dakota Highway Patrol via Facebook) (South Dakota Highway Patrol)
The South Dakota State Trooper’s cruiser was crushed by the semi-truck on Interstate 90. (South Dakota Highway Patrol)
The trooper was providing traffic control for another crash when a semi lost control and slammed into the trooper’s car. Police said that the driver of the semi-truck was driving quickly on the snowy roads while visibility was low.
“Slow down! You have somewhere to be,” South Dakota Highway Patrol wrote in a Facebook post following the collision. “Ice and snow, go slow.”
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The trooper was in the vehicle at the time of the crash and sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported by ambulance to a Sioux Falls, South Dakota hospital for treatment.
The driver of the semi was issued a citation for overdriving the road conditions.
According to the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, the tractor trailer driver was moving quickly on Interstate 90, despite snowy conditions. (South Dakota Highway Patrol)
Interstate 90 in South Dakota was covered in ice and snow following a winter storm in the state. (South Dakota Highway Patrol)
A late-winter blizzard settled over the upper Midwest on Saturday, shutting down roads and adding to one of the snowiest seasons in recent decades.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the majority of southeastern South Dakota was expected to be under a winter weather advisory until 7 a.m. Friday.
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“Plan on slippery road conditions. Blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility, with near blizzard conditions possible at times, especially during falling snow and in rural areas,” the advisory from NWS states. “The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.”
The Highway Patrol responded to a number of crashes in South Dakota on Thursday during severe winter conditions, and high winds.
A winter storm watch will be in effect Tuesday through Thursday for southeastern South Dakota, as a significant winter storm hits the area. (South Dakota Highway Patrol)
The National Weather Service said some areas of the Upper Midwest could see more than 12 inches of snow through Sunday, while other areas could see rain and freezing rain.
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The storm is expected to move into the Upper Great Lakes region on Sunday.
