2 dead, 3 injured in Interstate 94 crash involving loose tires from a semi-tractor trailer

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Two people were killed and three were injured in a crash on Interstate 94 Saturday evening when a semi-tractor trailer lost two tires on the freeway, one of which struck a passing vehicle on the opposite side of the interstate.

On Oct. 21 at 4:49 p.m., a 2019 Freightliner Semi, driven by 37-year-old Khadar Abdullahi Hawadle of Savage, Minn., was westbound on I-94 was in lost two tires on the roadway. One tire struck an eastbound 2023 Nissan Rogue, driven by 44-year-old Viengkhone Nguyen of Brooklyn Park, at mile marker 241, near St. Michael, Minnesota.

Airbags deployed in the Nissan Rogue.

Nguyen and one of her four passengers, 43-year-old Lea Khamphachanh of St. Cloud, were pronounced dead at the scene. The three other passengers in the Nissan all suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to North Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Hawadle, the driver of the semi, did not report any injuries during the incident.

All five vehicle occupants were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash and law enforcement believes alcohol did not factor into the incident.