DULUTH, MN — October 16, 2026 A wrong-way collision on Interstate 35 in Duluth left 35-year-old Joseph David Hartman with life-threatening injuries and claimed the life of another driver Friday morning, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
The crash occurred at approximately 6:20 a.m. near Cody Street, north of the Thompson Hill area. Investigators reported that Hartman was driving a 2021 Mazda CX-5 southbound when a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado pickup traveling north in the southbound lanes struck his vehicle.
Hartman, a Duluth resident, was transported to Essentia Health St. Mary’s for treatment of serious injuries. The 74-year-old man operating the pickup, also from Duluth, died in the collision.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the pickup entering the wrong side of the interstate. Initial reports indicated that alcohol was not suspected as a contributing factor, although the investigation remains important in establishing the events leading to the crash.
