Garbage truck causes 5-vehicle crash in Shakopee, 1 critically hurt

Authorities are on the scene of a serious crash in the south Twin Cities metro near the Renaissance Festival site that has Highway 41 shutdown.

A 50-year-old Chaska woman suffered life-threatening injuries Wednesday in a five-vehicle crash caused by a garbage truck, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

Highway 41 crash

What we know:

The State Patrol says it responded just before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday to a multi-vehicle crash in the area of Highway 41 and Demcon Road in Jackson Township. When authorities arrived, a total of five vehicles were involved in a rear-end style crash.

Authorities say traffic was stopped on southbound Highway 41 near Demcon for railroad crossing arms that were down. A garbage truck rear-ended a 2013 Hyundai Elantra, causing a chain reaction crash before coming to rest in the ditch. The crash caused both directions of Highway 41 to be closed for several hours.

The driver of that vehicle, a 50-year-old Chaska woman, was taken to Hennepin Healthcare with life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the garbage truck, and three other drivers involved in the crash, suffered non-life threatening injuries.

What we don't know:

What led up to the crash is under investigation.

Road incidentsScott County