Posted at: 12/25/2009 12:14 AM | KSAX.com
By: Michelle Knoll & Becky Nahm
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Winter Storm: 8-10 Inches of Snow, 2 Deaths

Thursday night,  eight-to-ten inches of snow had already fallen in parts of the state, and that could double before the storm ends.

Meteorologists say Faribault had 8 inches early Thursday morning. Minnetonka had 7 and Chanhassen had a little over 6.

There was more than 5 inches of snow at Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport.

The storm was being blamed for two deaths. The Minnesota State Patrol says 60-year-old Margaret A. Buckley of Eau Claire, Wis. lost control of her Toyota Camry on an icy road in Renville County at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Her car spun across the center line and was broadsided by another vehicle.

Buckley was killed. Of the four people in the other vehicle, two had minor injuries and two suffered injuries described as non-life-threatening.

Thursday evening, one person was killed in a crash near Detroit Lakes in Becker County. The Minnesota State Patrol says a Dodge Caravan crossed the center line while rounding a curve, and slammed head-on into a Chrysler. One person in the caravan died.

Between 6 p.m. Wednesday and 6 p.m. Thursday, the State Patrol reported 465 vehicles ran off the road and 312 property damage crashes. 52 people were injured.

Road travel was so treacherous, Greyhound Bus Lines and Jefferson Bus Lines  temporarily closed their downtown Minneapolis station and cancelled all of buses out of Minneapolis.

Passengers from anywhere in Minnesota had to find their own accommodations. Greyhound provided hotel accommodations to people from out of state.

As of 11 p.m. Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Control System Command Center was reporting delays of 15 minutes or less for flights to and from Minneapolis-St. Paul International.

Early Thursday, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS talked to a few people who fought the poor road conditions to get to the airport only to learn that their flights were canceled.

Several cities are making plans to clear their streets. As of 11 p.m. Thursday, Hopkins, Golden Valley, St. Louis Park, West St. Paul, Bloomington, Mendota Heights and St. Paul had declared snow emergencies. Minneapolis is expected to declare a snow emergency Friday.

Red Wing said Wednesday it would not declare a snow emergency because too many people are out of town and visitors won't know the rules.

Minneapolis will likely declare a snow emergency Friday.

The city also reminded property owners to clear off their sidewalks.

Under Minneapolis city ordinance, sidewalks in front of homes and duplexes must be cleared within 24 hours of a snowfall. Apartments and commercial buildings have four hours after a snowfall to clear sidewalks. Failing to do so can result in a fine.