102 Traffic Fatalities Bring Sorrow across the State

  • Preliminary data from the Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (DPS-OTS) shows 102 people have died on Minnesota roads since Jan. 1.
  • Minnesota reported 100 road fatalities this year on May 16.
  • The state reported 100 deaths on May 14 in 2018.

 

Recent Deaths on Minnesota Roads

  • A 59-year-old woman was killed when the van she was driving was hit by a truck in Aitkin County. The truck driver ran a stop sign.
  • A pedestrian standing outside of his vehicle that was stopped on the shoulder was killed by a driver who drifted onto the shoulder.
  • An ATV operator driving on a county road swerved to avoid a deer, went into a ditch, struck several trees and overturned. The three passengers were thrown from the vehicle. One 22-year-old man died from his injuries. Alcohol was suspected.
  • A car traveling on a Fillmore County road ran off the road at a curve and overturned, killing the 63-year-old male driver.

 

The 102 Fatalities Include:

  • 81 motor vehicle occupants.
  • Three motorcyclists, compared with five reported this time last year.
  • 17 pedestrians, compared with 11 reported this time last year.
  • One bicyclist, compared with two reported this time last year.
  • 15 deaths involving crashes with heavy vehicle trucks.
  • 44 single vehicle crashes.
  • 52 multi-vehicle crashes.

 

The Need to Make Better Choices

Four main factors continue to contribute to the loss of life:

  • 18 alcohol-related deaths (18 percent).
  • 10 distracted-related deaths (10 percent).
  • 20 speed-related deaths (20 percent).
  • 19 unbelted motorist deaths (19 percent).
  • Three – other factors.