VIDEO: Eagan Police Officer Critically Injured in I-35E Crash
MnDOT traffic camera photo shows emergency responders at the scene of a crash on I-35E in Eagan.
An Eagan police officer was severely injured in a crash on I-35E just after 5 a.m. on Tuesday.
MnDOT traffic cameras showed an Eagan squad car severely damaged in the center median, with a semi truck blocking the center lane just ahead and another passenger car with minor damage on the right shoulder.
According to dispatch audio reviewed by MN CRIME, additional officers arrived and reported that the officer needed to be cut from the vehicle before being transported to Regions Hospital by M Health paramedics.
State Patrol Troopers requested crash reconstruction and a commercial vehicle inspector to investigate the crash, which was said to involve a serious injury.
Northbound I-35E remained closed into the morning rush hour as Troopers investigated the scene.
No updates have been released on what caused the crash. Traffic on I-35E was reopened by around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
UPDATE: Eagan police confirm that Officer Kade Eggum, 22, was responding to an emergency call when his squad was struck by the semi. Eggum was transported to Regions, where he is in critical but stable condition, police say.
According to a State Patrol incident report, the Eagan officer merged onto northbound I-35E from Pilot Knob and was in the right-hand lane with his emergency lights activated. The officer attempted to make a left turn at the median to cross over at Yankee Doodle, and collided with the semi, which was heading northbound.
After the initial crash, a third vehicle was struck on the passenger side, and the squad car came to rest in the center median. The drivers of the semi and the third vehicle were both uninjured. All drivers were wearing their seat belts, the report said.
"Please know we appreciate all the prayers and kind words during this difficult time for the department," a media release from EPD read.
As of Thursday, March 16, Eggum remained in critical condition at the hospital, the department said:
Officer Eggum remains in critical but stable condition, and continues to show signs of improvement. He is surrounded by family and friends who have been lifted up by all the kind gestures from community members. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers!
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