The driver of a semi-truck was fatally pinned by his own vehicle as he carried out maintenance on the side of I-494 on Friday.
The tragic accident happened at around 9:45 p.m. on westbound I-494 near Babcock Trail in Inver Grove Heights, and resulted in the death of 51-year-old Smith Jay Patrick.
The Minnesota State Patrol says Patrick was pulled over to perform maintenance on the side of the road when the 2007 Freight Liner Semi Truck “pinned him while he was attempting to work on the vehicle.”
Patrick was taken to Regions Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The current state patrol report doesn’t list Patrick’s hometown.
Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.