1 dead and 10 hurt in van rollover
Published 9:16 am Monday, November 10, 2008
One man died and 10 others were injured late Saturday night after the 2004 Ford Econoline van they were riding in lost control, went sideways into the median and rolled several times on Interstate 90.
The road at milepost 159 — where the crash occurred — was icy, a Minnesota State Patrol report indicated. No alcohol was detected.
Milepost 159 is near the cloverleaf interchange for I-90 and I-35.
The report stated Minnesota man Oscar Altamirano-Pavon, 37, died from injuries related to the crash, and Virginia Pena-Flores, 38, also of Minnesota, is in critical condition.
Driver Alex Urbano, 25, of Norcross, Ga., received minor injuries, the report stated.
Receiving non-lifethreatening injuries were passengers Mauro Jiminez, 34, of Iowa; Hugo Altanirano-Pavon, 20, of Minnesota; Roberto Gonzalez, 31, of Iowa; Simon R. Mora, 34, of Spencer, Iowa; Raul Lagunes, 23, of Iowa; Javier Hernandez, 41, of Iowa; Ernesto Morales, 38, of Iowa; and Dora Maria, 34, of Iowa, according to the report.
The eastbound lanes of I-90 were completely shut down to aid in the medical needs of the injured, to protect emergency personnel and to procure a landing zone for the helicopters.
The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, the Albert Lea Police Department, Naeve Hospital ambulance, Albert Lea Fire Department, Albert Lea Township Fire Department, Austin Ambulance, Clarks Grove First Responders, Ellendale First Responders and three Mayo helicopters assisted at the scene.
According to the report, the incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. Saturday when Urbano was driving westbound on Interstate 90 and lost control of the van, which had a 15-passenger capacity.
“The weather at this time was cloudy, light snow showers, temperatures had dropped creating ice covered slippery road conditions, especially on bridge decks,” according to a Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office release.