A 2005 International propane tanker lost control and skidded off the road near Mike’s Holiday in Tofte on Sunday, January 23. Highway 61 was blocked for several hours as emergency responders rescued the driver and ensured that propane was not leaking from the tanker. Residents of nearby homes and the AmericInn were evacuated while the tanker was pulled from the ditch.
An emergency page went out to Minnesota State Patrol at 4:40 p.m. on Sunday, January 23 reporting an overturned tractor-trailer near Mike’s Holiday on Highway 61 in Tofte. The semi, which was hauling propane, was partially blocking the highway. Because of the potential hazard of an explosion, Highway 61 was closed for five hours as the scene was assessed and while the tanker was being righted the people in five nearby residences and the AmericInn were evacuated. According to Minnesota State Patrol, David M. Visksna, 52, of Willow River, was traveling east on Highway 61, entering Tofte, when he slowed for a vehicle making a left-hand turn. The brakes on his 2005 International locked up and the trailer of the propane truck slid into the ditch on the lake side of Highway 61.
Martin Diers, of Norwood Young America, MN, was traveling to Hovland in a vehicle following the tanker when it overturned in front of him. Diers sent an e-mail to the Cook County News-Herald in which he said, “I do not know exactly what led to his flipping over, because the first thing I saw was the underside of his truck in a big cloud of snow. As I said, visibility was poor, but the road in Tofte was very slick, lots of ice, so I can only imagine it was the result of his hitting his brakes while going too fast, on ice.”
Tofte Fire Chief Rich Nelson was just minutes behind the tanker himself, returning from a concert in Duluth. He responded to find First Responder Daniel Nelson, who was working at the Holiday gas station and observed the crash, helping the driver out of the cab of the truck. Other Tofte First Responders also responded and Visksna was transported to North Shore Hospital by Cook County Ambulance.
Chief Nelson immediately contacted the Minnesota Hazardous Materials Duty Officer to inform him of the accident and to get advice as the situation unfolded. Lutsen Fire Chief Paul Goettl, Grand Marais Fire Chief Ben Silence, and Schroeder Fire Chief Phil Bonin arrived to assist with assessment. The highway was shut down from the Birch Grove Community Center to the intersection of Highway 61 and the Sawbill Trail while the assessment was conducted. Once it was determined that the tanker was not leaking, traffic was allowed to take a bypass of the accident on the Tofte Park Road.
Lake City Towing of Superior was contacted and when the three large wreckers used to get the truck out of the ditch set up, people in the surrounding buildings were evacuated and the highway and the reroute on Tofte Park Road were shut down. The Birch Grove Community Center was opened for evacuees and for people stopped on the highway. The highway was completely shut down at 8:45 p.m. and by 10:30 p.m. the truck was back on its wheels.
“Lake City did a fabulous job,” said Chief Nelson. “Everyone did; all my guys and everyone who came to help. This is not something we do every day—a propane tanker rolled over in front of a gas station? It was pretty intense.”
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Visksna received minor injuries. No alcohol was detected and Visksna was wearing a seatbelt. No charges have been filed.
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