ALBERT LEA, MN – A Florida truck driver was killed and another man critically injured when two semi-trucks collided on an icy stretch of Interstate 35 in southern Minnesota early Monday morning.
Alessandro Gelsomino, 46, of Miami died in the crash that occurred around 2 a.m. near Albert Lea in Freeborn County. Both rigs ended up in the median ditch after the violent collision.
The driver of the second truck, a 34-year-old man from Hamilton, New Jersey, was transported to a nearby hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. He is expected to recover.
Minnesota State Patrol troopers responding to the scene reported snowy and icy road conditions at the time of impact. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts when the collision occurred.
Investigators have not determined which vehicle may have been at fault or whether the hazardous road conditions contributed to the crash. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the fatal collision.
Interstate 35 is a major commercial trucking corridor running from the Texas-Mexico border north through the heart of the United States to Duluth, Minnesota. The highway sees heavy semi-truck traffic year-round, making winter weather particularly dangerous for commercial drivers navigating the route.
The crash serves as a grim reminder of the hazards truckers face during winter months, when icy conditions can turn routine trips deadly in seconds.
The names of both drivers were released by the Minnesota State Patrol, which is leading the investigation. Gelsomino’s body will be transported to Florida following completion of the investigation.
