Crash injures woman, closes Hwy. 13

Published 6:38 pm Saturday, September 15, 2012

The northbound lanes of Minnesota Highway 13 south of Interstate 90 were closed for two hours Friday evening after a crash that injured one person.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Cynthia Christenson, 56, of Freeborn, was taken to Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea for injuries that were not life-threatening.

Christenson reportedly crashed into a semi that rolled over into her lane of traffic on the highway.

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The State Patrol states the semi was driven by Dann Phillips, 54, of Hartland. Phillips was reportedly driving southbound on Highway 13 in a 2003 International semi when an unknown pickup pulled out from the interstate ramp.

He swerved to avoid a collision with the pickup and instead rolled the semi on its side into both of the northbound lanes, according to the State Patrol. That’s when Christenson, driving northbound in a 2001 Saturn SC2, struck the semi.

Phillips was reportedly carrying a load of soybeans, and the beans were spilled across the highway.

He was not injured.

The crash reportedly took place at about 5:50 p.m. The lanes were open about two hours later.

Albert Lea police officers and Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputies assisted, along with the Manchester Fire Department, who assisted with cleanup.