Rochester Man Severely Injured by Flying Canopy on HWY 52

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man suffered severe injuries Sunday morning when a canopy flew off a pickup truck on Highway 52.

The State Patrol says 59-year-old Cham Chao was driving south in a small SUV when it was struck by the canopy from the pickup, which was also traveling south on the highway. Chao then lost control and his vehicle left the highway and crashed through the fence along the west frontage road at the 37th Street Northwest interchange.

The State Patrol says Chao was transported by Mayo Clinic Ambulance to the St. Marys Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the pickup, Kay Ione Kay of Wabasha, and a passenger in Chao's vehicle were not hurt.

The incident was reported at around 8:50 AM.