A Tuesday morning drive on Interstate 90 turned deadly in Marion Township, Olmsted County, when a multi-vehicle collision left a 72-year-old woman dead and briefly shut down the eastbound lanes during the morning rush. Troopers said the woman, who was driving a Toyota RAV4, was killed when her vehicle struck an eastbound semi just before 9 a.m. Two people in a Nissan Altima and the semi driver escaped injury, and authorities noted the pavement was wet at the time.
Crash details and who was hurt
According to KIMT, citing the Minnesota State Patrol, the collision happened just east of Highway 52 and involved an eastbound semi, the Toyota RAV4 and a Nissan Altima. The State Patrol identified the semi driver as 43-year-old Louis Antone Plaskey of Loyal, Wisconsin, and the RAV4 driver as 72-year-old Evelyn Marie Brye of St. James, who died at the scene. The two occupants of the Nissan, 46-year-old Alex Blake Whiteis and passenger Reese Jessica Whiteis, were reported uninjured.
Where it happened: construction and conditions
The crash unfolded in a stretch of highway where the Minnesota Department of Transportation has been reconstructing the I-90/Highway 52 interchange, a long-running project that has brought lane shifts and short-term detours to the corridor. The project page from MnDOT highlights bridge work and detours in the Highway 52 area as crews replace the westbound I-90 bridge. Troopers told local reporters the roads were wet at the time of the collision.
Investigation and traffic impacts
The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating the crash, and crews temporarily shut down eastbound I-90 while tow trucks and investigators worked the scene, causing delays for morning commuters, according to KIMT. Authorities did not announce any charges, and troopers asked anyone with information to contact the State Patrol's crash unit.
Safety context for the corridor
Statistical data from Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths maps fatal and serious crashes in Olmsted County from 2020 through 2024 and highlights recurring trouble spots along state routes. That data underscores why officials continue to stress slowing for poor pavement conditions and following posted detours in work zones.
State troopers continue to investigate the collision. The crash report will be filed with county authorities, and the case remains open. This story will be updated as officials release more details.
