Four freshman roommates at North Dakota State University on their way back to school from the Twin Cities died Monday in a crash on Interstate 94 west of Alexandria.
The driver in the wreck Monday afternoon amid heavy snow and fog was identified Tuesday by the State Patrol as Lauren J. Peterson, 18, of Prior Lake. Also newly identified as dying in the crash are passengers Jordan N. Playle, 19, of Elk River, and Megan R. Sample, of Rogers. The fourth, identified Monday evening, was Danielle R. Renninger, 18, of Excelsior.
The crash happened shortly after 3 p.m. Monday west of Alexandria. TheState Patrol Sgt. said roads were slippery and slushy and snow was falling, but officials were still investigating the cause of the crash.
State Patrol Lt. Eric Roeske said the crash happened when a westbound car went through the median and crashed head-on into an eastbound sport utility vehicle.
The four people who died were all in the westbound vehicle and were wearing seat belts; people in two other vehicles were taken to area hospitals. The number of injured and the extent of their injuries was not immediately known.
State Patrol investigators were reconstructing the crash, and investigating whether the weather, speed or alcohol were factors. The eastbound lanes of I-94 were closed for about two hours after the crash.
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