"Merging conflict" led to chain reaction fatal crash on I-35W in north metro, patrol says
An investigation is underway following a seven-vehicle pileup north of the Twin Cities that killed one and injured multiple others Tuesday.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, troopers responded at about 10 a.m. to a crash on Interstate 35W near County Road I in Arden Hills.
The patrol later said a "merging conflict" on the southbound lanes of the interstate resulted in a chain reaction crash involving seven vehicles, including three semitrucks. Further details on what led to the crash have not yet been released.
A driver in a 2013 Chevrolet Impala, identified as 67-year-old Kirby Kyle Schwarzkopf, was killed in the crash. Ten other people were involved. Five of them were injured, but are expected to be OK.
Southbound lanes of the interstate between U.S. Highway 10 in Shoreview and Exit 29 in Arden Hills were shut down until about 1:45 p.m.
Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash, the patrol said.
Arden Hills is located about 10 miles northeast of Minneapolis.
