Thomson Township, MN (June 13, 2026) – According to reports, two people were injured in a three-vehicle crash on Thursday night, June 11, around 10:35 p.m. on Interstate 35 near Milepost 244 in the Esko area of Thomson Township.
A 2023 GMC Canyon was traveling northbound in the left lane while passing a 2017 Ford Escape that was also heading north. At the same time, a 2007 BMW 335 moved from the right lane into the left lane and accelerated in an attempt to pass the Ford.
Investigators said the BMW struck the rear of the GMC, causing a chain-reaction collision. The impact pushed the GMC into the Ford. The Ford was forced onto the shoulder with rear-end damage, while the GMC entered the median and struck cable barriers. The BMW continued into the median and also hit the cable barriers.
The GMC driver, 72-year-old Colin Wayne Mattson of Duluth, and his 71-year-old passenger, Janice Arlette Mattson, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Essentia for treatment. The Ford driver, 36-year-old Nicholas Andrew Grames, and the BMW driver, 22-year-old Logan Stanley Baker of Willow River, were not injured. The incident is still under review by the police. We are thinking of those affected
How Rear-End Collisions Can Lead to Multi-Vehicle Crashes
Rear-end crashes on highways can quickly involve multiple vehicles, especially when traffic is traveling at higher speeds. When one vehicle strikes another from behind, the force of the impact may push the struck vehicle into nearby traffic lanes, barriers, or additional vehicles.
Multi-vehicle collisions often occur when drivers change lanes without enough space, misjudge closing distances, or fail to recognize differences in traffic speed. Even in dry weather and clear roadway conditions, sudden lane movements can leave little time for other motorists to react. Highway safety experts note that maintaining safe following distances and checking surrounding traffic before changing lanes are among the most effective ways to reduce the risk of chain-reaction crashes. These incidents can result in injuries to occupants who may have had little opportunity to avoid the collision.
