According to the Minnesota State Patrol, three men were injured in a crash on Interstate 90 on Friday afternoon. There were no fatalities, and the injuries were not life-threatening.

The crash occurred at 3:16 p.m. Friday, according to the patrol’s report.

Traffic on I-90 in both directions ground to a halt as first responders dealt with the two-car collision. The wreckage was less than a mile west of I-90 Exit 154, where the freeway intersects Minnesota Highway 13. Because of road construction on what usually are the westbound lanes, the westbound and eastbound traffic were confided to the two lanes usually for eastbound traffic. So when the collision occurred, both directions of traffic had to be shut down.

A green 1997 Dodge Caravan driven by Khemsak Keopraseuth, 46, of Rockford, Ill., was broken down in the construction zone on the shoulder of the westbound lane. His passenger was Kwe Wah, 24, also of Rockford. The two men are relatives, the report states.

Bryant J. Dagestad, 20, of Emmons, was headed westbound in a violet-red 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix. According to the report, he swerved to avoid slow-moving traffic and rear-ended the Dodge.

The report indicates Keopraseuth was not wearing his seat belt, likely because of his car’s disrepair. It said Dagestad indeed was wearing a seat belt. It was undetermined whether Wah was buckled up. An airbag deployed for Dagestad.

The Pontiac came to a rest in the ditch of the median. The Dodge was on the edge of the roadway. A Volvo tractor-trailer from United Group Express swerved onto the soft shoulder of the eastbound lanes. Because of the summer road construction, new grass had been planted along the shoulder and the ground was soft. The truck’s wheels sank into the mud.

Responders were the Minnesota State Patrol, Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, Albert Lea Medical Center, Albert Lea Fire Department and Hayward Fire Department. The injured men were transported in two ambulances to ALMC.

After the fire trucks moved at about 3:45 p.m., the eastbound lanes opened again. They closed again as a Hayward fire truck hauled the minivan out of the way for traffic and as a tow truck from Allen’s Tow N Travel moved the big rig back onto the road so its driver could continue eastbound.

Reports came in that many motorists were getting off the freeway at Albert Lea exits and taking alternate routes. Some opted for Freeborn County Road 46, which is closed between Albert Lea and Alden. Deputies responded to that route.

Eventually, both available lanes on I-90 reopened to traffic from both directions. Just east of this collision site was the location of a quadruple fatality in August.