Search warrant issued after fatal accident in Floodwood

A search warrant has been issued in St. Louis County to obtain a blood sample from the driver of the tractor-trailer involved in the fatal crash that killed four people near Floodwood on Wednesday.

The search warrant signed by a judge on Wednesday said a witness driving behind the International 9000 tractor-trailer driven by 63-year-old Gregory Anwiler of Grand Rapids noticed the tractor-trailer changing lanes on both sides of westbound Highway 2, traveling at different speeds, before the crash occurred.

The officer who obtained the search warrant also spoke to Anwiler at the hospital and said he observed him reacting slowly and appearing “dazed and lethargic,” the search warrant states.

The officer also noted that Anwiler said he could not remember anything before or during the accident when the officer spoke to him.

The crash occurred Wednesday afternoon in a construction zone and involved four vehicles – a GMC Acadia, a Ford Escape, a Mac Semi, a Honda Pilot – and the International Semi. The four vehicles were in traffic due to the construction zone when the International Semi struck them, according to the Minnesota State Patrol report.

All four occupants of the Honda Pilot were killed – two adults and two children.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reporter Alex Jokich spoke with a woman who was among about a dozen Good Samaritans who stopped at the scene to help.

No charges were brought against Anwiler for the accident.