2 Killed, Dozens Injured in More than 550 Crashes Across Minnesota Wednesday

Undated (KROC-AM News)- The second round of widespread snow across Minnesota factored into more than 550 crashes on Wednesday. 

See Also: Young Girl and Man from Rochester Critically Injured in Hwy. 14 Crash 

Two lives were lost and nearly 50 people were injured in traffic crashes across the state. 

An infant was identified as one of the fatal crash victims. Wednesday’s first deadly crash happened on Interstate 35 in Owatonna. 

Read More: Rollover Crash on I-35 in Owatonna Claims Life of Infant 

The State Patrol says the baby boy, who was less than a year old, was pronounced dead at an Owatonna Hospital following the crash around 7:40 a.m. 

25-year-old Dominic Hosteller of Owatonna was identified as the driver of the pick-up transporting the infant. Hosteller and a four-year-old girl, also riding in the pick-up, were taken to an Owatonna hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

Brainerd Man Identified as Victim of Fatal Rollover Crash on Snowy Minnesota Highway

Wednesday’s second fatality happened around 5:45 p.m. in the Brainerd Lakes area. 31-year-old Stephen Michael Moran of Brainerd was driving a pick-up north on Hwy. 371 between Fort Ripley and Brainerd. 

The pick-up went off the road, entered the median then rolled, the State Patrol says. Moran was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The State Patrol reported responding to 577 crashes statewide from midnight to 9 p.m. on Wednesday. 

48 of the crashes involved injuries. There were also 134 vehicles that went off the road, 34 spin outs and 23 jack-knifed semis during Wednesday’s snowfall, according to the State Patrol.

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