Wrong-Way Driver Causes 2 Crashes In Duluth: MSP

DULUTH, MN — The Minnesota State Patrol (MSP) is investigating two separate crashes, both involving the same wrong-way driver who died in the second crash Friday. Authorities say there was a first crash that resulted in injury. Then, moments later, the same wrong-way was involved in another crash, which was fatal.

In the first crash, a 2009 Hyundai Sonata was driving southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 in Duluth. As it continued, a 2018 Dodge Avenger, a 2001 Land Rover Discovery, and a 2013 Kia OSX all collided to avoid the Sonata near 27th Avenue West. The Sonata did not make contact with any of those vehicles, according to MSP.

"All of a sudden, out of nowhere, we look up and there’s a car just barreling right at us. I mean, he was flying," witness George Kane told the Duluth News Tribune. "I just hit the brakes as hard as I could and it was so close, I just knew we were going to get hit. I said to my wife afterwards, I didn’t think for a second that we weren’t going to get killed. I was just wondering how hard the impact was going to be."

4 Vehicles involved in first crash

2013 Kia OSX

Driver

• Crystal Lynn Blazinski, 31
• Glencoe, Minnesota

Passenger

• Peyton Rose Blazinski, 7
• Glencoe, Minnesota

Passenger

• Jasmine Delores Chavarria, 13
• Glencoe, Minnesota

Passenger

• Alicia Violet Lopez, 4
• Glencoe, Minnesota

2001 Land Rover Discovery

Driver

• London Elysse Brown, 17
• Duluth, Minnesota

Passenger

• Bayley Ann Anderson, 17

Passenger

• Basia Colleen Leahy, 17

2018 Dodge Avenger

Driver

• Debra Ann Myles, 45
• Robbinsdale, Minnesota

Passenger

• Montiera My-Ann Dillon, 21
• Robbinsdale, Minnesota

Passenger

• Demetrius Junior Myles, 10
• Robbinsdale, Minnesota

Passenger

• Demetriuz Jessi Myles, 7
• Robbinsdale, Minnesota

Passenger

• Malaysia Monet Myles-Gerencael, 10
• Robbinsdale, Minnesota

2009 Hyundai Sonata

Driver

• Dennis Chester Edlund, 77
• Centerville, Minnesota

MSP has not yet released information regarding the second crash.

Image via Google Streetview