2 Charter Buses Crash On Highway 280: 45 People Involved

TWIN CITIES, MN — The Minnesota State Patrol says 43 passengers and two drivers were involved in a collision between two charter buses on Highway 280 Thursday at Larpenteur in Lauderdale. Eight people were injured in the crash, including both drivers.

At least one of the buses was headed to the Minnesota State Fair, which began today.

The crash closed Highway 280 — a major artery used to get to the fair — for several hours. It reopened around 4 p.m.

The preliminary investigation shows that a Lorenz bus — attempting to make a left turn to go on the southbound 280 entrance ramp — continued going left and went onto the grass before hitting the median wall and ending up on the highway.

At that point an Andy's Charter Service bus — carrying 43 people to the fair, plus the driver — collided with the Lorenz bus. The only occupant of the Lorenz bus was the driver, authorities said.

It's not yet clear why the Lorenz bus failed to remain on the roadway.