Just days before Christmas, an admired husband and father of five from Monticello was tragically killed in a chain-reaction crash involving two big rigs on Interstate 94.

Tom Pearson, 61, died on the scene of the devastating wreck, which happened late last Thursday amid the first major storm of the season, when roadways were treacherous, with snow and ice creating hazardous conditions.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the collision happened shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday in Wright County near Clearwater. Troopers say a semi jack-knifed into the center median cables on I-94 befor Pearson, the driver of a Honda Ridgeline, then crashed into the semi.

A second semi then collided with the first, the patrol said, causing the Honda to roll. Road conditions were described as both snowy and icy. 

Neither semi driver was hurt in the pile-up. 

Minnesota State Patrol spokesman Lt. Mike Lee said 453 property damage crashes (38 involving injury) were reported from Thursday’s major snow event, along with one fatal crash,  309 vehicles either off the road or spun out and 37 jackknifed semis.