ST. PAUL
A North Branch, Minn., woman was killed Thursday morning when the car she was riding in was rear-ended, thrust into oncoming traffic and struck again.
Kristina Pinna, 20, died at the scene, a construction zone on Interstate 35E in Lino Lakes, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Her mother, Debra Hildebrand, was driving the car that was struck. She survived and was hospitalized in good condition.
Hildebrand's vehicle was southbound on the interstate near County Road 14 about 6:22 a.m. when it was struck from behind by a car hauler. Hildebrand, also of North Branch, was braking at the time, officials said.
The impact of the crash sent Hildebrand's car into the vehicle in front of it and then spun it around and into the northbound lane, where it was broadsided by a semi, said Lt. Eric Roeske, Department of Public Safety spokesman.
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Hildebrand, 46, was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul where she remained Thursday afternoon.
The women's family could not be reached for comment.
Neither the driver of the car hauler, Matthew Hauer, 35, of Red Wing, Minn., nor the driver of the semi, Richard Kawalek, 62, of Mora, Minn., was injured. The driver of the vehicle Hildebrand's car was pushed into also was uninjured.
Roads were dry at the time of the crash and it did not appear alcohol or drugs were a factor in the accident, Roeske said.
After state investigators complete their inquiry, the case will be forwarded to the Anoka County Attorney's Office to review for possible charges.
None of the other parties involved could be reached for comment.
The accident blocked traffic on I-35E in both directions for several hours during the morning commuter rush.
Distributed by MCT Information Services
