First snow transforms Eden Prairie: Scenic yet slippery

Eden Prairie awoke Thursday to a glistening blanket of snow, as the season’s first major storm transformed the town into a picturesque winter scene.

With 5 to 7 inches blanketing the Twin Cities, snowplows rumbled to life, and bundled commuters braved slick streets.

Behind the serene imagery, however, the Eden Prairie Police Department reported one crash and assisted the Minnesota State Patrol with another during the morning commute, according to a statement from the city.

In a Dec. 19 blog post titled “Winter Driving,” the department wrote: “So far in 2024, 447 people have died in car crashes on Minnesota roadways. This is significantly ahead of last year’s total at this time, which was 384 fatalities.” The post continued: “While factors such as speed, unbuckled motorists, drunk driving and distraction play major roles in traffic deaths, snowy and icy conditions remain a significant hazard.”

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To help Minnesotans stay safe, the department shared guidance from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety: “Buckle up and ensure that child restraints are tightly secured.” Drivers were also urged to “use extra caution when approaching snowplows and maintain a distance of at least 10 car lengths behind them.”