This year is proving to be a deadly one on Central Minnesota roads and beyond. In March, a woman was killed in Benton County when she lost control of her vehicle on a snowy, icy road. She slid into oncoming traffic where she was struck by another driver. That driver and a child in the car were injured. Although the road was being cleared regularly, law enforcement said the winds continued to blow snow onto it.
The month before, here in Stearns County, a wrong-way driver struck another one on Highway 23. Both drivers were killed. The cause of the crash was at last report still under investigation. In January, another driver was killed on Highway 23.
Also in Stearns County, an Interstate 94, a semitruck driver died when his truck went off the road and into a ditch in February. The cause of that crash hasn’t been reported.
Minnesota traffic fatalities are already well into the double digits. If this continues, they could end up higher than 2024’s total of over 470. That was up 12% from 2023. Many others affected by crashes this year have suffered serious injuries.
Winter weather isn’t the only danger on the roads
Certainly, Minnesota’s brutal winters play a role in these disturbing statistics. However, numerous non-seasonal factors also are to blame. Speeding and wrong-way driving continue to be a problem in Minnesota and throughout the country, for example.
Wrong-way drivers are often – but not always – impaired by alcohol and/or drugs. Sometimes, they’re drivers who aren’t familiar with an area and have mistakenly gotten in the wrong lane. This can be more likely, of course, when conditions make it difficult to see road signs. These can include blowing snow, rain, fog and darkness.
Minnesota, because of its location, also has more hours of darkness in the winter than states to the south of us. That makes it particularly critical for drivers to use their headlights properly. That includes being careful about using their high beams, even in remote areas, if there are other vehicles on the road because they can easily blind oncoming drivers.
Minnesota driving can present some unique dangers. However, some risks come from drivers who are negligent or reckless – including those who drive drunk, drugged or distracted, which are near-universal concerns across the country.
If you’ve suffered injuries or lost a loved one in a crash, it’s important to understand what kind of compensation you can seek and to have experienced legal guidance to protect your right to that compensation. Simply because “accidents happen” doesn’t mean that they have to occur with no justice for those affected.