Update: Speed, alcohol not factors in crash, State Patrol says

Three Carleton College students died on an icy road near Northfield on Friday after the SUV they were riding in spun out of control and crashed into an oncoming semi truck, the Minnesota State Patrol said.

James Adams, 20, of St. Paul; Michael Goodgame, 20, of Westport, Conn.; and Paxton Harvieux, 21, of Stillwater all died in the collision about a mile north of Northfield on Minnesota 3.

Two other Carleton students were injured in the crash, including the SUV’s driver, William Sparks, 20, of Evanston, Ill., and passenger Conor Eckert, 19, of Seattle. Both were in serious condition at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis on Friday evening.

No alcohol was detected in Sparks’ system, the State Patrol said, adding that all five men were wearing seat belts. The sport utility vehicle’s air bags had been deployed.

The driver of the semi, Terry Danny, 56, of Pioneer, Tenn., was not injured, the State Patrol said. No alcohol was detected in his system.

The broadside collision occurred shortly before 3 p.m. on Minnesota 3 at County Road 47 in far southern Dakota County. It had snowed during the day.

According to a preliminary report by the State Patrol, Sparks’ 1997 Toyota 4Runner was northbound on the two-lane Highway 3 near the intersection when it spun out of control and went into the southbound lane, where it was broadsided by Danny’s 2007 International semitrailer.

A witness at the scene, Andrew Struss, 32, of St. Peter, told the Northfield News newspaper that “the roads were horrible. … It looked like the Toyota slid right into the semi and was broadsided between the wheels.”

Struss said at least two of the three deceased were seated on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Carleton President Steven Poskanzer released a written statement late Friday offering condolences to the students’ family and friends.

“The collective Carleton soul aches for the loss of these three young men,” Poskanzer said. “Right now, we need to focus all our love and compassion on supporting the families and friends of all these young men, along with everyone in our community who cares for them.”

The 2,000-student private liberal arts college in Northfield said Adams was a chemistry major, Goodgame was studying political science, and Harvieux was studying computer science.

Carleton said counseling services have been made available to students and that a campus vigil would be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Skinner Memorial Chapel.

The State Patrol continued to investigate the crash late Friday.

Earlier Friday afternoon, a series of multiple-vehicle pileups closed northbound Interstate 35 in Lakeville for several hours after snow squalls spread across the Twin Cities.

The pileups happened around 1 p.m. near the County Road 50 exit.

The State Patrol said some 50 vehicles were involved, having either crashed, gone off the road or spun out.

No serious injuries were reported, and the interstate reopened around 3:30 p.m.

Up to 3 inches of snow had fallen by late Friday afternoon, mainly across the southern metro area.

Icy roads also were being blamed on a southern Minnesota crash that killed a 16-year-old Blue Earth boy Thursday night.

According to the State Patrol, Ethan Rorman died about 10 p.m. Thursday when he lost control of the pickup truck he was driving and veered off westbound Leland Parkway at Hood Street in Blue Earth.

Rorman’s Ford Ranger rolled into the ditch and he was killed. Two 15-year-old male passengers survived the crash. One was uninjured and the other suffered injuries that weren’t life-threatening.

Tad Vezner can be reached at 651-228-5461. Follow him at twitter.com/SPNoir.