UPDATE: Both Drivers Injured in I-94 Crash Near Freeport, One Dead After Earlier Crash

Update, 5 p.m.: The Minnesota State Patrol has released more details in a crash that happened just after 8 a.m. Wednesday on Interstate 94 near Albany that preceded another crash that caused both lanes of traffic to shut down for several hours.

At 8:06 a.m. near mile marker 144, the patrol says an International semi truck traveling westbound on I-94 veered off the road and crossed the median. It entered the eastbound lanes, where it struck a Sterling straight truck and a Ford Flex. The driver of the semi, identified as a 59-year-old man from Sibley, North Dakota, died. A 44-year-old Sauk Centre woman who was driving the Flex sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The Sterling truck driver, a 26-year-old man from New Munich, also had non-life-threatening injuries.

About an hour after the first crash, a GMC Yukon rear-ended a Kensington truck as the truck was slowing down due to traffic backup near exit 140. Both drivers in that crash suffered injuries.

Both lanes of I-94 were closed for several hours Wednesday.

Update, 3 p.m.: The MnDOT 511 traffic webpage indicates that the lane closure and detour on I-94 near Freeport has been cleared.

(KNSI) – Both drivers were injured in a two-vehicle crash that left both lanes of Interstate 94 closed this morning.

As of noon, the eastbound lanes of I-94 at exit 140 near Freeport are still closed, but westbound is open.

The Minnesota State Patrol says around 9:15 Wednesday morning, a Kenworth straight truck was traveling eastbound and was slowing due to traffic backup stemming from a fatal four-vehicle crash near Albany that the state patrol says happened around 8 a.m. When the semi was slowing down, it was rear-ended by a GMC Yukon.

The 38-year-old female driver of the Yukon was sent to St. Cloud Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The 26-year-old male driver of the truck suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Both parties were wearing their seatbelts, and the state patrol says alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Images from the scene show a semi trailer on its side, blocking the road.