Thomas Victor Pearson Obituary, Death; – A man lost his life on Thursday night along Interstate 94 when the vehicle he was operating collided with the trailer of a semi-truck, subsequently leading to another collision with a different semi. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the incident took place near Clearwater Township in Wright County at approximately 10:55 p.m.
While traveling eastbound on the interstate, a semi-truck jackknifed into the center median cables. Shortly thereafter, a 2023 Honda Ridgeline, also heading east, struck the trailer of the jackknifed semi. A second semi-truck then crashed into the first semi, causing the Honda to roll over.
The drivers of both semi-trucks—a 29-year-old man from Faribault and a 41-year-old man from Brooklyn, New York—sustained no injuries. However, the driver of the Honda, 61-year-old Thomas Victor Pearson from Monticello, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Minnesota State Patrol noted that the roadway was covered in snow and ice at the time of the accident.
This incident marked the only fatality reported by the Minnesota State Patrol on a snowy day throughout the state. The agency also recorded 453 crashes resulting in property damage, with 38 incidents involving injuries and 37 cases of jackknifed semi-trucks.