Single vehicle crash causes power outage, temporarily blocks highway

A single vehicle crash on Highway 61 between Grand Marais and Lutsen took out a power pole at 11 p.m. on Friday, August 2. The party reporting the accident said there are two occupants in the vehicle, but caution was advised as powerlines were strung across the road.

Arrowhead Electric Cooperative was contacted to ensure the powerlines were not electrified. A Minnesota State Patrol trooper blocked eastbound traffic and First Responders halted traffic on the other side of the downed lines.

Firefighters and First Responders were paged from Lutsen and Grand Marais, with firefighters on the Grand Marais side of the downed electrical line asked to bring extrication equipment to get the two people out of the car in the ditch. Firefighters and First Responders had to walk the equipment to the vehicle.

Arrowhead Electric line crews arrived and cut the power to the downed lines shortly before midnight, enabling the North Shore Ambulance to reach the patients. The ambulance left the scene at 12:05 a.m. with a 71-year-old female and 65-year-old male.

At 12:06 a.m., the highway was reopened to traffic. Arrowhead Electric remained on scene to restore power and a tow truck was called to remove the vehicle from the ditch.

The cause of the accident is not known. WTIP will provide more information as it becomes available.