Red Wing, MN : Semi driver ID'd, said he swerved for deer in road on May, Friday, 26th 2017

Authorities on Friday, May 26, identified the driver of a semi-trailer that crashed, spilled thousands of pounds of flour in a ditch and affected highway traffic near Maiden Rock for more than 12 hours.

Pierce County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Jason Matthys said the driver was 70-year-old LaCrescent, Minn., resident Michael C. Johnson, who was taken to Mayo Health System-Red Wing with non-life threatening injuries.

Johnson was driving a northbound semi carrying about 44,000 pounds of flour that crashed at 6:33 a.m. on Highway 35 at the Pierce-Pepin county line, Matthys said.

A Friday news release states Johnson told deputies he swerved to avoid a deer in the road that caused him to lose control of the semi. The semi overturned and its fuel tanks ruptured but didn't ignite, Matthys noted.

The scene was cleared at 6:55 p.m. according to Department of Transportation data.

Cleanup efforts were handled by Siewert’s Garage, according to the sheriff’s office.

The crash remains under investigation.

Deputies were assisted at the scene by EMS crews from Plum City and Ellsworth, firefighters from Ellsworth and Lund, along with the Pierce County Highway Department.

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Semi driver ID'd, said he swerved for deer in road