Over 130 crashes reported in 12 hours after bitter cold causes untreated roads to freeze over
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Temperatures and wind chills plummeted below zero during the overnight hours, causing untreated roads to freeze over and problems for drivers Wednesday morning.
Sub-zero temperatures arrived in the Twin Cities area for the first time since February 2021, and those temperatures are expected to return for New Year’s Eve and into Saturday morning.
The Minnesota State Patrol said troopers across the state responded to 139 crashes and 110 vehicles spun out or off the road between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Wednesday. Eight of those crashes resulted in injuries but none were fatal. Two jackknifed semis were also reported during that time frame.
A jackknifed truck is seen on Interstate 94 near Moorhead on Wednesday morning.[Minnesota State Patrol/Sgt. Jesse Grabow]
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is asking drivers for their patience, especially with the cold temperatures. They’re also asking drivers to take it slow.
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Make sure to follow @kstptraffic on Twitter to get the latest updates from Hanna Conway ahead of your morning commute. See her latest updates below.