Multiple accidents reported on Highway 61 in Cook County as snow and rain pelt the area

Rain, falling snow, and slick roads on Martin Luther King Jr. Day greeted motorists across the WTIP listening area to start the week. Local law enforcement officials reported two accidents on Highway 61 in Cook County on Monday,  Jan. 16.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, at approximately 11 a.m. Monday, troopers responded to a single-vehicle rollover crash on Highway 61 near mile marker 112, about 4 miles east of Grand Marais near the Devil Track River. A 2014 Subaru Forester was the vehicle involved in the crash. The driver was identified as 40-year-old Jennifer Quade, of Bloomington, Minn. There were no other occupants in the vehicle. There were no injuries. The cause of the crash is under investigation, according to Gordon Shank, the public information officer for the Minnesota State Patrol.

A second crash was reported about 45 minutes later, at approximately 11:45 a.m. yesterday. Troopers responded to a single-vehicle rollover crash on Highway 61 near Judge Magney State Park. A 2003 Toyota Corolla was the vehicle involved in the crash. The driver was identified as 56-year-old Andrew Johnston of Peterborough, Ontario. There were no other occupants in the vehicle. There were no injuries. The cause of the crash is under investigation, according to Shank.

Roads remain slick across the WTIP listening area Tuesday morning (Jan. 17), including Highway 61. Some areas in Cook County received more than 4 inches of heavy, wet snow Monday night. In a statement sent to WTIP Jan. 16, Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen urged motorists to drive with caution as rain and snow remain in the forecast.

“Please be cognizant of the weather conditions, and how quickly the driving conditions can deteriorate,” Eliasen said. “Use caution and keep vehicle speeds slow enough so that you can safely control your vehicle.”

Joe Friedrichs January 17, 2023