Winter Storm Blamed For 3 Fatal Crashes

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) -- A major winter storm that has left roads snow covered and slippery in the Upper Midwest is blamed for at least three fatal crashes.

In North Dakota, the driver of a pickup truck was killed when he collided with another vehicle on a snow-covered highway in Dunn County Thursday. The Highway Patrol says the vehicles crashed when visibility was reduced by blowing snow from a plow. The driver and three passengers in the other vehicle were not hurt.

RELATED: Heavy Snow Blankets Parts Of Northern, Western Minnesota During Winter Storm

In Minnesota, a collision between a small bus and an SUV in Sherburne County is blamed on slippery road conditions. Marilyn Balogi, a 47-year-old passenger on the bus, was killed. Eight others on the bus and the SUV driver were injured.

The latest happened in central Minnesota's Crow Wing County where a pedestrian was struck on a road by a pickup with a plow blade. Sheriff's officials say road conditions and visibility were very poor at the time of the accident which occurred about 8:30 p.m. Thursday. The victim is identified as 51-year-old Michael Donnay, of Merrifield, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Meanwhile, traffic management cameras captured many spinouts and crashes, including one on Interstate 94 and 101 near Rogers, and a crash along Interstate 35 and exit 36 near Lino Lakes.

The Minnesota State Patrol is responding to crashes all over the metro and urge people to slow down. They reported that from 9:30 p.m. Thursday and 11:45 a.m. Friday, there were 103 crashes statewide and 209 spinouts. Twelve incidents involved injuries.

People forced to move around on the ice say its all a part of living in Minnesota.

"It's something that always happens. We live in Minnesota so we know what we are getting ourselves into, so it's never really a surprise. It's just, when you have that first fall of the year, it's not the most fun thing in the world," driver Boaz Fink said.

In Minneapolis, there is increased enforcement on residents who do not shovel their sidewalks. To make sure you are not given a warning or fined for not shoveling, get out there and make sure the mail carrier and amazon driver can get your letters and packages to you.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)