Alcohol Involved In Fatal Crash That Shut Down Highway 62: Patrol

MINNEAPOLIS — Alcohol was involved in the fatal single-car crash that shut down both directions of Highway 62 in Minneapolis early Monday morning, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

The highway has since reopened.

According to investigators, just before 3:30 a.m., a Chevrolet Silverado with a trailer was traveling eastbound on Highway 62 when it hit a ditch and then collided with the cement underpart of the bridge at 34th Avenue.

A passenger — identified as 21-year-old Preston Rhyn Haley from Como, Colorado — died in the crash.

The driver — identified as a Wills Point, Texas man — suffered life-threatening injuries and is being treated at the Hennepin County Medical Center. Alcohol was detected on the driver, investigators said.

It is not clear if either of the two men were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, according to authorities.

Following the initial fatal crash, a Minneapolis fire truck collided with a Minnesota State Patrol squad car at the scene. The two emergency vehicles were responding to the first crash and had their lights activated.

Both the trooper and fire truck driver suffered minor injuries in the secondary crash, authorities said.