Amid blowing wind and snow that created white-out conditions, Interstate 90 became the scene of multiple crashes, including one that injured a Mower County Deputy.

Sheriff Teresa Amazi called an eight-hour stretch of accidents on the interstate near Highway 16 at the Dexter exit “absolutely nuts.”

Sleet-turned-to-snow created dangerous conditions by noon Tuesday. Snow was whipped up by wind gusts that reached 35 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

A jack-knifing of two semi’s around noon forced a pile-up of vehicles, including the crash between a semi and the deputy’s squad car about 2:30 p.m. The interstate was closed for a time.

Deputy James A. Lamecker, 59, was eastbound in his squad on the interstate near the Dexter exit, directing traffic from the right lane to the left. A semi, traveling about 35 mph, hit the rear of the squad a glancing blow, spinning the squad. Amazi said there were white-out conditions at the time.

Lamecker was transported to Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin, where he was treated and released with bumps and bruises, said Amazi on Wednesday. The squad was totaled, she said.

Amazi said the interstate was fraught with vehicle accidents, mostly due to drivers “who just refused to slow down” during the ugly conditions.

“It was like bumper cars out there,” said Amazi, who had five deputies on the scene.

Amazi said deputies, Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Minnesota State Patrol and the Grand Meadow and Dexter fire departments were on scene responding to the incidents or diverting traffic.

A Milwaukee woman suffered injuries just after 9 p.m. Tuesday when her Chevy Express van slid on Interstate 90 at Dexter, causing it to roll. Sade Lavern Tatum, 29, was transported to Mayo Clinic Saint Marys campus with non-life threatening injuries.

The Lyle Police Department also responded to a non-injury crash on Highway 218, said Amazi. A Mitchell County, Iowa accident also closed Monument Avenue, near the Minnesota border, when a semi blocked the road.

Lyle Public School was closed Tuesday, and LeRoy-Ostrander was delayed two hours Wednesday morning.

Several Austin Public Schools Tuesday sporting events were canceled, including girls basketball at home versus Mankato East, wrestling in Madelia, boys basketball at Mankato East, and boys swimming and diving at Faribault.

Patchy blowing snow continued into the evening hours. Travel had improved Wednesday, but icy spots were still challenging drivers during their morning commute.

The weather service warned of the potential for another storm system today into Thursday when another round of snow was possible. About an inch is expected with that system.

—Jason Schoonover contributed to this report.