According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a North Mankato man was killed in a crash on December 10th when his car was hit head-on by a semi-truck in Nicollet County.

Authorities state that the crash happened at approximately 4 p.m. on highway 169 near Highway 14. The 63-year-old victim was driving his two-door Jeep southbound on Highway 169 when he jumped the median after losing control over the vehicle. When he entered the northbound lane of the highway, he was hit head-on by a semi-truck.

The State Patrol cites icy road conditions as the cause of the crash.

The victim has been identified as James Hughes. Hughes was previously employed with the St. Peter School District as an assistant principal. He had been employed with the district for 22 years and had retired in 2008. He was also student council advisor during his time with the district with officials stating he was a very well-liked individual.

Although slippery conditions are cited as the main reason for the crash the Minnesota State patrol is being assisted by the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s office in the investigation.

The Iowa semi-truck driver received minor injuries. Hughes died on the scene and is the third death that has been blamed on the snow storm that passed over Minnesota that weekend. One other death occurred while a man was shoveling snow from his sidewalk and the second death occurred when a semi-truck lost control on Highway 61 and struck a man in his family car and an SUV.