Drivers on Interstate 35 near Rush City have spent the past week dodging more than traffic. Chisago County deputies say large rocks and what appeared to be vehicle oil were hurled from an overpass, damaging several cars and leaving a slick mess across the highway. At least one vehicle had to be towed, but authorities report no serious injuries so far. The sheriff's office is now asking for the public's help to catch whoever is responsible.
What investigators say
According to CBS Minnesota, deputies received multiple calls over the past week about objects being dropped from the 530th Street overpass onto both northbound and southbound lanes of I-35. One report, just after 10 p.m. Sunday, described "numerous large rocks and a significant amount of oil" raining down on passing vehicles and the roadway below.
The Minnesota State Patrol is assisting the Chisago County Sheriff's Office with the investigation and response.
Two teenagers heading home from a fishing trip told reporters their car was hit as they drove under the bridge. "I see like a big boulder bounce up from the road and it just smokes my car," one teen said, while the other described the rock as "over watermelon-sized." Both teens told CBS Minnesota that their vehicle had to be towed, and that they were simply thankful no one was hurt.
Officials seek tips
Local coverage shows deputies combing the shoulders and the overpass itself for evidence, while cleanup crews treated slick spots on the interstate. KSTP reported that the road was "covered with what appeared to be vehicle oil," prompting an immediate response to clear the hazard.
Law enforcement is urging anyone with dash-cam or cellphone video from the area to come forward. Tipsters can contact Chisago County dispatch at 651-257-4100.
What the law says
Deliberately dumping objects or oil onto a highway in Minnesota is not a prank in the eyes of the law. Under the state's criminal damage statute, prosecutors can pursue felony charges when property damage creates a "reasonably foreseeable risk of bodily harm" or when other thresholds for the degree of harm are met. See Minn. Stat. 609.595 for details on potential charges.
How drivers can help
Motorists who were in the Rush City area over the past week are being asked to review any dash-cam recordings and cellphone videos for clues, save the files, and share them with investigators. The Chisago County Sheriff's Office and its partners request that tips and video be submitted through the department's regular contact channels. The county's Public Safety Center outlines ways to reach dispatch and file anonymous tips, and the Chisago County Sheriff's Office site provides phone numbers and instructions for submitting information.
