Clearwater Township, MN (July 23, 2026) – One person was injured in a three-vehicle crash on Wednesday morning on westbound Interstate 94 in Clearwater Township, Wright County. Emergency crews responded to the collision at approximately 11:29 a.m. on July 22 near Milepost 180.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a 2026 Peterbilt 389 tractor-truck was stopped in westbound traffic because of a construction zone. A 2019 Subaru Outback was also stopped behind the truck when a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, traveling westbound, collided with the rear of the Subaru. The impact pushed the Subaru into the back of the Peterbilt.
The driver of the Subaru, 28-year-old Knut McHugh Kennedy of St. Cloud, sustained non-life-threatening injuries. He did not require transportation to a medical facility.
The driver of the Hyundai, 38-year-old Shawn Michael Bibeau of Albertville, was not injured. The driver of the Peterbilt, 44-year-old Anson Wayne Eklund of Austin, was also uninjured.
The roadway was reported to be dry at the time of the crash, and alcohol is not believed to have been a factor. The Minnesota State Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.
We are thinking of the injured driver and wish him a full and speedy recovery.
Why Are Chain-Reaction Crashes Common in Construction Zones?
Construction zones create sudden slowdowns or stop traffic, increasing the risk of rear-end and chain-reaction collisions. Drivers who are unable to stop in time can push one vehicle into another, resulting in multiple impacts.
Investigators typically examine the following distances, vehicle speeds, braking evidence, roadway conditions, and damage patterns to determine how the crash occurred. Electronic crash data and witness statements may also be reviewed to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Even when only one person is injured, chain-reaction crashes require a thorough investigation because multiple vehicles and driver actions must be evaluated to determine the contributing factors.
