Wrong Way Driver Fatality in Duluth

The Minnesota State Patrol continues to investigate two crashes involving several vehicles in Duluth Friday night caused by one wrong way driver.  According to the State Patrol report, the last crash proved fatal for the driver, identified as 77 year old Dennis Edlund of Centerville, Minnesota.

He was first reported heading south in the northbound lane of I-35 around 5:15 p.m. traveling at a high rate of speed near the 27th avenue exit, causing three vehicles to collide while trying to avoid the man, driving a Hyundai Sonata.  

He then continued the wrong way on the Bong bridge where he crashed into a pickup and another vehicle. That crash proved fatal.

Only two injuries after all this, a woman and a 10 year old girl from Robbinsdale, involved in the first crash report, were taken to St. Lukes hospital in Duluth with non life-threatening injuries.

It’s not known at this time if Edlund was under the influence, but the report indicated he was not wearing a seatbelt.

According to the Duluth News Tribune, both Duluth bound lanes on the bridge linking Superior to West Duluth were closed for about three hours after the crash.