4-vehicle crash cleared on I-35W in Bloomington; victim seriously injured

A man was seriously injured in a four-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon on Interstate 35W in Bloomington.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the crash happened around 4:44 p.m. in the southbound lanes of I-35W at the 90th Street bridge.

A Jeep Liberty was stalled in the left lane underneath the bridge when a Ford Escape traveling southbound swerved at the last minute and clipped the right side of the Jeep. A Chevy Tahoe traveling at highway speed then rear-ended the stalled Jeep, and the vehicles came to a rest on the right side of the interstate. A Ford F150 was also sideswiped by the vehicles veering to the right.

The driver of the Jeep, identified as Richard Behtune, 56, of Minneapolis, left his vehicle and was struck by the Chevy. He was taken to Hennepin HealthCare with life-threatening injuries, the crash report stated.

Lanes on either side of the highway were closed but have since reopened.

Officials say road conditions are dicey and to avoid the area if possible.