A 19-year-old motorcyclist was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries after colliding with a pickup truck while speeding through heavy traffic on Interstate 35W, as reported by officials.
A report from the Minnesota State Patrol reveals that the accident occurred on Tuesday after 5 p.m. on I-35W close to the 36th Street exit.
A traffic camera recorded the moment as the motorcyclist navigated northbound through the space between two lanes of vehicles. A motorcyclist collided with a Jeep Wrangler and then crashed into the rear of a pickup truck as vehicles in front began to decelerate.
Emergency personnel quickly reached the location and shut down the right lanes of traffic as officials conducted their investigation. A 19-year-old individual from Blaine was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center for treatment of injuries that authorities have characterized as life-threatening.
The report from the State Patrol did not specify the speed at which the teenager was driving prior to the accident.
The rider had a helmet on, and there was no indication that alcohol played a role in the accident. The other two drivers involved sustained no injuries in the incident.
Minnesota has enacted a new law permitting motorcyclists to navigate between lanes of traffic moving in the same direction.
Nonetheless, the legislation will not be implemented until July 1, 2025, and a motorcyclist is prohibited from exceeding the speed of traffic by 15 mph or traveling faster than 40 mph.
