Heavy snowfall and accumulating snow on the roads helped contribute to a fatal accident at the intersection of Minnesota Highway 55 and Eaton Avenue Southeast in Rockford Wednesday night.
Dashcam photo courtesy of the Minnesota State Patrol from Wednesday, April 16.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Karen A. Tibbetts, 65, of Aitkin was killed around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 when she lost control of her 2004 Ford Explorer while driving eastbound on Highway 55 near the intersection with Eaton.
A report filed by the State Patrol states Tibbetts spun sideways into the westbound lane of Highway 55, where she was struck by Brett Riske, 28, of Maple Grove, who was driving a 1993 Ford Escort. Riske slammed into Tibbetts’ Escort broadside, with the car hitting the passenger side of the SUV.
A third car, a 2013 Cadillac Escalade, was also caught up in the crash, driven by 43-year-old Jon Tank of Buffalo.
Neither Riske or Tank were treated for injuries on scene, according to the patrol’s report.
More than 12 inches of snow fell on parts of Wright County, with about 6 to 8 inches reported near Rockford, yesterday. All told, the Minnesota State Patrol responded to more than 150 crashes and more than 200 vehicles off the road Wednesday and Thursday morning.