St. Paul, MN : 2 on firefighting crew killed in I-35W rollover in Blaine on Saturday afternoon, August 27, 2016

Two members of a Michigan-based firefighting crew were killed and several others seriously injured Saturday afternoon in a rollover crash on Interstate 35W in Blaine.

The State Patrol on Sunday identified the victims as James Shelifoe, 23, and Alan Swartz, 25, both of Baraga, Mich.

The accident occurred when a southbound International truck carrying nine people crashed shortly after 3 p.m. near the 95th Avenue overpass, according to information on the Minnesota State Patrol’s website. After leaving the roadway, the truck struck the median cable barriers and rolled, the State Patrol said.

What caused the rig to leave the road is unknown.

The crew was headed for the Box Canyon fire in Utah. The seven who were injured are expected to survive, the patrol said.

The truck bore the logo of the Beartown Firefighters, a wildland firefighting crew based in Baraga, Mich., managed by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

“Our hearts are broken and our prayers are with the family members and those injured,” said a post on the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s Facebook page.

The crash closed a section of I-35W in both directions for several hours, detouring traffic to off-ramps.

Minnesota Professional Fire Fighters said Sunday on Facebook that “area firefighters are being sought to act as Honor Guard for the deceased and critically injured firefighters. If you are able to help please call 763-370-1370.”

Source :
2 on firefighting crew killed in I-35W rollover in Blaine