Deadly crash shuts down section of Hwy 12 near Independence

INDEPENDENCE, Minn. (KMSP) - A deadly crash near Independence, Minnesota shut down a section of Highway 12 in both directions for several hours Friday evening.

According to West Hennepin Public Safety, around 3:13 p.m., authorities responded to a three-vehicle crash on Highway 12 near Valley Road in Independence.

Officers discovered that the first car was traveling west when it crossed over the yellow center line and crashed with the semi truck heading east. The driver of the car, 52-year-old Tamara Freiborg of Bloomington, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the other car that was hit was not injured in the crash.

The semi truck came to rest against the guardrail, blocking the highway. The driver was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

According to a release, witnesses did not report seeing the car weave. When officer searched her car they found a purse on the passenger's seat with a cell phone zipped in a pocket.

The crash is still under investigation.

Highway 12 west of County Road 90 is closed until further notice. According to West Hennepin Police, MnDOT needs to resurface the centerline because the original placement of the rumble strips degraded the pavement.