Slick surfaces cause crashes

Published 9:32 am Monday, December 27, 2010

The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office responded to two traffic crashes involving injuries due to slick roads Friday.

The first crash occurred at 9:11 a.m. Friday when two vehicles collided head-on along County Road 35 west of Geneva.

According to the sheriff’s report, David Thompson was driving westbound with his family, Cole, Gretchen and Ethan Thompson in the vehicle. John Edward Lee was reportedly driving eastbound when his vehicle reportedly skidded on the ice and hit the Thompson vehicle head-on.

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Sheriff’s reports said five people were transported to the hospital.

Sheriff’s deputies were called to a car-tractor collision at 10:53 a.m. Friday.

According to sheriff’s reports, Gayle Arthur Kuethe was driving a tractor at 19297 680th Ave., Alden.

A car occupied by Orville and Carol Ann Ohm approached and tried to slow, skidding on the ice. Kuethe reportedly tried to reverse the tractor but the tires just spun on the ice. A bucket on the front of the tractor was high enough that airbag sensors in the car were not effected and as the car and tractor collided, the airbags in the car did not deploy.

Heavy damage was reported to the front of the car and some damages to the bucket of the tractor.

Albert Lea Medical Center ambulance services reportedly were called to the scene.

The Albert Lea Police Department responded to several traffic crashes in town due to slick roads on Friday.

No injuries were reported in any of the following incidents:

• A traffic crash at the intersection of West Main Street and South Washington Avenue at 8:30 a.m. Friday.

• A Dodge Durango and a pickup truck reportedly collided Friday at 10:56 a.m. at the intersection of Garfield Avenue and East Front Street.

• A Pontiac Vibe and an SUV reportedly collided at the intersection of Garden Road and North Lane at 11:27 a.m. Friday.

• A city plow hit a parked car at 404 E. Fifth St. Friday at 11:30 a.m.

• A two-vehicle accident at 620 E. Main St. Friday at 1:21 p.m.

• A three-car accident at East Hawthorne Street and Bridge Avenue Friday at 4:12 p.m.