Man airlifted to Rochester after crash

Published 4:50 pm Thursday, January 5, 2012

A tan Buick Park Avenue is left in the creek below Interstate 90 after a man was extricated around 1:45 p.m. Thursday. Authorities have not yet released the man's name. He was airlifted to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. -- Kelli Lageson/Albert Lea Tribune

A man was airlifted to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester Thursday afternoon after he reportedly crashed off of Interstate 90 north of Albert Lea and landed in an icy creek below.

Firefighters search through debris for anything identifying the man who was extricated from the his car after it crashed.

The man, whose name has not been released, reportedly crashed around 6:30 a.m. near the mile 154 exit but was not found until about 1 p.m. — 6 1/2 hours later.

Authorities have not yet identified the man who was airlifted via Mayo One to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

The creek runs perpendicular to the interstate and 225th Street, which is just south of the highway.

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The cause of the crash has not been released. It is unclear whether the car crashed over the bridge or somehow otherwise off the hill.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the son of a nearby homeowner found the man in his crashed tan four-door Buick Park Avenue and called 911.

The man was extricated from the car and airlifted by Mayo One helicopter at about 1:45 p.m. Authorities stated he had a bruised arm and was cold. His other injuries were unknown.

A tan Buick Park Avenue rests in a creek below Interstate 90 while firefighters and members of the State Patrol and Freeborn County Sheriff's Office look on.

The Minnesota State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, the Albert Lea and Manchester fire departments and Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea ambulance crews.

Look to the Herald for more information as it becomes available.