Cliff Buchan
News Editor

A Chisago City woman was killed last week when her vehicle was pushed into the oncoming lane of a semi truck on US-8.

The crash happened at 5:34 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5 on US-8 just east of the CR-22 signal lights and claimed the life of Caroline Franklin, 39, of Chisago City, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

According to MSP reports, Franklin was eastbound in a 1998 Pontiac Sunfire that had slowed and stopped in traffic when the vehicle was rear-ended by a Ford Taurus driven by Kimberly Vinar, 46, of Cushing, WI. Vinard was also eastbound on US-8.

According to the police report, the Vinar vehicle swerved to the right but struck the Franklin vehicle in the right rear quarter, forcing it into the westbound lane of US-8 where it was struck by the semi driven by William Slagter, 51, of Blaine.

Police reports said Slagter pulled to the right in an attempt to avoid the collision but could not prevent the crash.

The State Patrol said the semi went over the top of the Pontiac Sunfire, killing the driver.

The accident remains under investigation. There were no other serious injuries in the crash, the patrol said.

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