Crash spills semi’s load of peas, potatoes; charges expected

A semi-truck loaded with small peas and potatoes lost control and rolled over along U.S. Highway 2 in St. Louis County on Thursday, spilling part of the contents and creating a mess.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol the accident was reported about 5:13 p.m. when a westbound Dodge minivan crossed the center line on Highway 2 and crashed into an eastbound semi-truck. The accident occurred just west of Aune Road.

According to the St. Louis County Rescue Squad, the crash dislodged one axel of the semi, causing it to flip. The State Patrol said the rollover spilled what appeared to be peas and potatoes. The mess took several hours to clean up with help from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Both drivers suffered minor injuries and were treated and released from Duluth hospitals.

The State Patrol said the driver of the minivan, Bradley J. Wagner, 44, of LaPorte, Minn., appeared to have been drinking and that charges are pending for Criminal Vehicular Operation. The driver of the Peterbilt truck was Bruce J. Albert, of Wallace, Mich.

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