Fundraiser Established For Wife Of Worker Killed On I-94

ROGERS, MN — Construction worker Vernon Carl Hedquist, 59, of Pillager was killed in a crash on Interstate 94 Tuesday. Hedquist is the 13th work zone fatality so far in 2018, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

A GoFundMe page has been established for Hedquist's wife, Cindy. Hedquist was performing geotechnical evaluation on I-94 before the crash, according to the page.

"In his time outside of work, Vern loved to hunt pheasant and deer and taught adult Sunday school at their church," the page reads.

"During his tenure at WSB, Vern liked personal interactions and was always attentive in conversations. He enjoyed learning and was very curious about everything in his life. When asked about her husband, Cindy said, 'My Vern loved life!'"

Before working for a construction company, Hedquist had worked for the Minnesota Department of Transportation since 1991.

Authorities say when a Ford F-150 slowed for traffic Tuesday afternoon in Rogers, it was rear-ended by the Kenworth truck.

The F-150 spun into the construction lane, striking two station vehicles (Chevrolet Silverado and a GMC Construction Truck), police said. The F-150 and its trailer also struck two pedestrians in the construction work area, Hedquist and another man, Thomas John Wood, 64, of Maple Grove.

Wood suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Related: Burnsville Company Involved In Fatal I-94 Crash: Report

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Image via GoFundMe