One driver seriously injured by head-on crash in Balkan Township

At roughly 6:05 a.m. on Saturday, December 30th, 2023, St. Louis County Sheriff’s Deputies alongside local first responders responded to a two-vehicle head-on accident just south of the Hibbing Taconite main entrance on Hwy 5 in Balkan Township.

Officials say a northbound vehicle lost control on the ice-covered roadway. Witnesses also reported the vehicle began fishtailing uncontrollably, ultimately crossing the centerline and colliding with a southbound vehicle. The impact caused the northbound vehicle to veer off the road, roll, and eject the driver who reportedly was not wearing their seatbelt.

The injured driver, a 39-year-old male from rural Balkan Township, was transported by ambulance to Fairview Hospital in Hibbing. Due to the serious life-threatening injuries, he was then transferred to a Duluth hospital. Meanwhile, the other driver suffered minor injuries and was treated on the scene by ambulance personnel and later released.

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, alongside the Chisholm Police Department, Chisholm Fire Department, Chisholm Ambulance, and the Minnesota State Patrol, responded to the incident.

The investigation is still ongoing, with officials stating slippery roads and fast speeds as contributing factors to the collision.