3 dead, 4 hospitalized after car collides with semi on I-35W ramp in Minneapolis

A predawn crash Tuesday on the I-35W ramp to SE 4th Street in southeastern Minneapolis left three people dead and four others hospitalized, after a Hyundai Elantra carrying seven struck a semi-truck, authorities said.

The crash occurred at approximately 4:12 a.m. CT at the exit to SE 4th Street from the Interstate 35 West ramp, the Star Tribune reported. The collision was several blocks from the University of Minnesota campus in the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood of Minneapolis. The vehicle that struck the truck was a Hyundai Elantra with Colorado license plates. Seven people were in the vehicle, according to KARE. The driver of the semi was not injured.

Three people in the Elantra were pronounced dead at the scene, while the other four occupants were transported to an area hospital, the Star Tribune reported. The Elantra was wedged beneath the semi for several hours, according to the newspaper. Police have not identified any of the victims and have not provided details about the circumstances leading up to the crash. An investigation is ongoing.

Why it matters: Early-morning ramp and interchange crashes keep producing the worst outcomes — another reminder to treat unfamiliar urban exits with extra caution in the dark.

Source: WDUV 105.5 The Dove (Cox Media Group), Sept. 29, 2026.