Accident leaves one dead on Owatonna

OWATONNA — One man is dead after a snowmobile accident Thursday afternoon.

Steele County Sheriff Gary Ringhofer said a 64-year old man died after the snowmobile he was on was struck by a truck. At about 2 p.m., a pick-up truck traveling eastbound near the 2,000 block of 88th Street SE struck the snowmobile as it was crossing the road.

The weather and extremely icy road complicated rescue efforts, and the first ambulance to arrive skidded off the road. Air medical assistance was also not available due the weather.

The man was taken by ambulance to the Owatonna Hospital, where he later died.

Driving, even walking, was treacherous Thursday as freezing rain and drizzle coated Steele County, a carry-over from Wednesday night.

Steele County Sheriff’s Sgt. Lon Thiele said numerous vehicles throughout the county had gone off the road Thursday, but the snowmobile accident was the only accident which caused injuries.

The National Weather Service in Chanhassen, Minn. has placed Steele County — along with most of southern Minnesota — on a special weather watch.

Areas of freezing rain or freezing drizzle are expected to continue through the weekend.

“With the weather coming, in freezing drizzle, obviously we want people to use extreme caution and drive slow. Roads are deceivingly slippery,” Thiele said.

Dodge and Olmstead counties remained under a freezing rain advisory until midnight Thursday.

The Weather Service is predicting a major winter storm to hit Minnesota Friday — which may bring with it freezing rain, sleet and significant snowfall in many areas.

Steele County is expected to receive freezing rain and drizzle throughout the weekend with snow forecast for Sunday night.

The storm is expected to last through Sunday with “significant accumulations of snow”, according to the National Weather Service. Winds are expected to pick up Sunday and will likely cause blowing and drifting, making driving conditions very difficult.

A large storm system is moving out of the Rockies Friday, bringing with it abundant moisture from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf Coast.

Ringhofer was urging motorists to pay close attention to road conditions over the weekend. Although the roads have been fairly dry, the heavy moisture in the air is making roads very slippery.

“Definitely don’t have the cruise (control) on,” Ringhofer said.

The Minnesota State Patrol reported that in just five hours Thursday, between 5 and 10 a.m., troopers had responded to nine vehicles across the road, 16 property damage crashes, and five personal injury crashes — none serious.

The majority of these calls for service were in the southern half of the metro in Dakota County.

Wendy Reuer can be reached at 444-1565.

Share:

Guidelines: Welcome to the Owatonna People's Press community. Please keep your comments civil. Don't attack other readers personally and keep your language decent. If you would like to report abuse click here to notify us.

Login and voice your opinion!