A Minnesota Department of Transportation worker placing traffic cones to prepare for the closure of Interstate 35W in Burnsville for flood prevention was struck by a driver and seriously injured Sunday afternoon.
The crash occurred shortly before 4 p.m. when a 25-year-old Mound, Minn., man driving a 2002 Hyundai Elantra swerved and struck the MnDOT vehicle on I-35W at Cliff Road in Dakota County, according to the State Patrol. The two MnDOT workers, in a 2014 Ford truck, were placing cones in preparation for the overnight closure of northbound I-35W. Both men were injured. Ronald McDeid, 43, of Champlin suffered serious injuries in the crash. His condition was not known Sunday night.
Dennis E. Scott, 57, of Rockford had injuries that weren't considered life-threatening.
Overnight lane closures were proceeding, said Kevin Gutknecht, communication director for MNDOT.
"Drivers need to be careful in work zones," he said Sunday night.
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Transportation officials were reducing I-35 northbound from three lanes to one lane between Burnsville Parkway and Black Dog Road overnight so crews could set barriers to build a dike to prevent flooding. Crews planned to complete the work overnight and open all lanes before Monday morning's commute.
St. Paul Pioneer Press is a media partner of Forum News Service.
