After Wednesday crash, officials warn motorists to remain in vehicles when stranded roadside

(KMSP) - The seasons are changing here in Minnesota and overnight there was a dangerous reminder of how important it is to be ready for it.

A crash along Hwy. 169 went completely out of control and slick roads were just part of the problem.

The crash has left one man fighting for his life as a pick-up truck slid into the side of a bridge and the driver got out of the car. Then, another car comes barreling into him, sending the man into traffic where he was then run over by four cars.

“Everyone says it happens so fast. It always happens so fast,” said Jon Cummings, of Minnesotans for Safe Driving.

The man in the morning crash is alive, but in critical condition. It’s a tragic situation that may have been avoided had he stayed in his car.

Cummings said, “It’s kind of human nature that we want to get out and see what happened but look at what happened today.”

Cummings said what happened this morning can be a cautionary tale.

“One of our volunteers was changing a tire on 494 and a drunk hit him and threw him 100 feet onto 494,” he said. “He ended up 15 years in the hospital, five surgeries.”

The Minnesota State Patrol says if you're disabled on the side of the road you should buckle your seat belt, put on your hazards, get your car out of the lane of traffic, pull off to the nearest exit if you can and call 911.

“It’s very frustrating because we don’t want this to happen and we just ask please be aware of your surroundings and stay in your vehicle at all costs," said Minnesota State Patrol spokesman Gordon Shank.

Authorities also ask the cars that are passing by to be aware so an already dangerous situation doesn't get any worse.

“If you see something and you’re paying attention which you should be, please move over,” Shank said. “We just ask that you move over for these people that are on the shoulder. We will get there as soon as possible.”

The Department of Public Safety says that from 2013 to 2017 they've recorded 10 fatal crashes involving a person getting hit outside their car after an original crash occurs.

That does not count non-fatal crashes like the one that happened here, nor does it count those who were disabled on the side of the road with no crash.