Wrong-way driver killed on Hwy. 169 identified as 93-year-old

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner has identified the driver killed in a wrong-way crash Monday afternoon on Highway 169.

According to the crash report, Irene Castor, 93, of Belle Plaine was driving south using the northbound lanes when her car crashed head-on with a Chevy Silverado.

The Minnesota State Patrol said it happened just before 1 p.m. around a mile south of downtown Belle Plaine. The crash shut down northbound Hwy. 169 for several hours on Monday.

The Chevy driver, a 38-year-old Elk River man, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and wasn't taken to the hospital, according to the crash report.

Castor died at the scene of the crash, with the medical examiner's office attributing her cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries due to the collision.

It's not been revealed at this time was caused her to drive the wrong direction on the highway.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

Related: Patrol investigating fatal crash involving wrong-way driver near Belle Plaine