Crashes Reported in the Media

[pkpk]

Thank you Hope.  While not one to look for a silver lining from a tragedy, Jim was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma and Colon cancer.  We can't help but wonder if the effects of the chemo contributed to the crash.  In a sense, we are taking solace in the fact he died while riding, and not from wasting away from the cancer.  Always hard to lose someone you work with everyday nonetheless.

[Elk]

It is indeed exceedingly difficult to deal with such losses.  I am very sorry to hear of his death, especially under such circumstances.

[pkpk]

How many times have you navigated around a barricade, thinking it really wasn't going to be that bad?  I think this is a good case why you would never want to do this after dark.

Superior motorcyclist, 75, in critical condition after plunge into washout

By: News Tribune staff, Duluth News Tribune

A 75-year-old Superior man was reported in critical condition Thursday after driving his motorcycle into a water-filled gully on Wednesday night.

A witness told Superior police that he saw a motorcycle drive northbound on Marina Drive and maneuver slowly between barricades that blocked a washout caused by June flooding, police said in a news release.

When the witness didn’t see the motorcycle shortly after, he walked over and saw the driver and motorcycle in the creek at the gully’s bottom and called 911, police said.

Emergency crews arrived about 8:40 p.m. and found the man unconscious and unresponsive. CPR was given and the man was taken to Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center. His name won’t be released until relatives are notified, police said.

[pkpk]

All available information for
incident number 12271501.

    Incident Number:    12271501    Incident Date/Time:    9/11/2012 9:04:00 PM
    MSP District:    2700    Incident Contact:    MN STATE PATROL DISTRICT 2700 - (218) 302-6127
    Number of Individuals:    1       
    Number of Vehicles:    1    
                   
    Location:    NB I 35    Road Type:    CONCRETE
    Milepost:    254    Road Condition:    DRY
    County:    ST. LOUIS    Number of Lanes:    2
    Crash Type:    RAN OFF ROAD    Divided/Undivided:    DIVIDED ROADWAY
    Incident Classification:    PERSONAL INJURY    Hazardous Material:    NOT PRESENT
                   
    Assisting Agencies:
       
    DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT
                   
     Person 1:    LAMMI, RYAN A , 28 , OF DULUTH MN , DRIVER OF VEH 1 , Phys. Cond. : NOT DOCUMENTED
     

    Vehicle 1:
       2001   KAWASAKI ROAD-STRT 
     
          
    IncidentDescription:    MOTORCYCLE RAN OFF RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD, STRUCK BRIDGE WALL AND EJECTED OFF MOTORCYCLE.
            
    Information Complete:    INFORMATION BELIEVED COMPLETE   
    Last Updated:    9/12/2012 2:10:37 AM
         
Individual Records

    Listed below are the individual records that match the criteria you specified.
    *Estimated age used only when true age is unknown.
    Case Number:    12271501    Seatbelt:    N/A
    Incident Date/Time:    9/11/2012 9:04:00 PM    Airbag:    N/A
    Info Released:    9/13/2012 6:00:00 AM    Helmet:    NO
                   
    Person ID:    12271501V1P1    Age:    28
    Full Name:    LAMMI, RYAN A    Estimated Age:    ACTUAL AGE ABOVE
    Associated Vehicle:    12271501V1    Alcohol in System:    UNKNOWN
    Role in Crash:    DRIVER    Hospital:    ST. MARYS HOSPITAL , DULUTH, MN 
    Residence:    DULUTH , MN , USA    Physical Condition:    NOT DOCUMENTED 
    Sex:    MALE       
    Relation to Driver:    SELF    Fatal Date:    N/A - NOT RECORDED
                   

[pkpk]

All available information for
incident number 12200973.

    Incident Number:    12200973    Incident Date/Time:    9/13/2012 6:04:00 PM
    MSP District:    2200    Incident Contact:    MN STATE PATROL DISTRICT 2200 - (507) 344-2750
    Number of Individuals:    1       
    Number of Vehicles:    1    
                   
    Location:    196TH AVE/COUNTY RD 38; WEST OF NORTHRUP, MN    Road Type:    BLACK TOP
    Milepost:    NONE RECORDED    Road Condition:    DRY
    County:    MARTIN    Number of Lanes:    2
    Crash Type:    OTHER    Divided/Undivided:    UNDIVIDED ROADWAY
    Incident Classification:    PERSONAL INJURY    Hazardous Material:    NOT PRESENT
                   
    Assisting Agencies:
       
    MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE
                   
     Person 1:    METZ, GRANT L , 57 , OF FAIRMONT MN , DRIVER OF VEH 1 , Phys. Cond. : INJURY - NON LIFE THREATENING
     

    Vehicle 1:
       2007   YAMAHA ROADSTER 
     
          
    IncidentDescription:    V1, WB ON 175TH ST; LOST CONTROL IN CURVE AND STRUCK SIGN POST
            
    Information Complete:    INFORMATION BELIEVED COMPLETE   
    Last Updated:    9/13/2012 9:14:23 PM
         
Individual Records

    Listed below are the individual records that match the criteria you specified.
    *Estimated age used only when true age is unknown.
    Case Number:    12200973    Seatbelt:    NO
    Incident Date/Time:    9/13/2012 6:04:00 PM    Airbag:    NONE OR NOT DEPLOYED
    Info Released:    9/13/2012 7:00:00 PM    Helmet:    YES
                   
    Person ID:    12200973V1P1    Age:    57
    Full Name:    METZ, GRANT L    Estimated Age:    ACTUAL AGE ABOVE
    Associated Vehicle:    12200973V1    Alcohol in System:    NO ALCOHOL DETECTED
    Role in Crash:    DRIVER    Hospital:    IMMANUEL ST JOSEPHS , MANKATO, MN 
    Residence:    FAIRMONT , MN , USA    Physical Condition:    INJURY - NON LIFE THREATENING 
    Sex:    MALE       
    Relation to Driver:    SELF    Fatal Date:    N/A - NOT RECORDED
                   

[pkpk]

SUV driver suspected of intoxication in E. Bethel crash that killed 2 on motorcycle

    Article by: PAUL WALSH , Star Tribune
    Updated: September 17, 2012 - 11:27 AM




A motorcycle and an SUV collided at an East Bethel intersection, killing both riders on the motorcycle and landing the SUV driver in jail on suspicion of being drunk at the time, authorities said Monday.

The crash occurred about 7:40 p.m. Sunday at Viking Boulevard and Rendova Street, according to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office.

Dead at the scene were a 48-year-old man from St. Francis and a 46-year-old woman from Big Lake, the Sheriff's Office added. Their identities were being withheld pending notification of relatives.

Under arrest is a 42-year-old woman from Bethel, the Sheriff's Office said. She is suspected of criminal-vehicular homicide and has yet to be charged.

"The driver exhibited signs that she was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage," said Sheriff's Cmdr. Paul Sommer, who added that any potential charges would reveal precisely how far over the legal limit of 0.08 percent blood alcohol content the woman was at the time.

The motorcycle was heading west on Viking Boulevard and braking heavily before it hit the SUV on the driver's side door, the Sheriff's Office said.

Authorities say they are less clear about the SUV's movements before the crash or even what road it was on before ending up pointed south and then struck on the driver's side precisely between the two doors.

"There were no witnesses to the accident, and the suspect gives a statement that is conflicting to the physical evidence," said Sommer, "so we can't say for sure if she was on Rendova or just doing a U-turn on Viking."

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

[pkpk]

35W pileup leaves motorcyclist dead

    Article by: PAUL WALSH , Star Tribune
    Updated: September 19, 2012 - 8:34 AM



A four-vehicle pileup on a busy interstate in Bloomington left a motorcyclist dead, authorities said.

The crash occurred about 3:25 p.m. Tuesday on southbound Interstate 35W at 94th Street and killed motorcyclist Michael W. Sjoberg, 66, of Minneapolis, the State Patrol said. No one else was hurt.

According to the patrol:

Sjoberg "slowed abruptly" as traffic in front of him was slowing down. A car behind Sjoberg pushed the motorcycle into the car ahead. The car behind the motorcycle then veered into the left lane and struck a minivan.

All drivers had on their seat belts, and Sjoberg was wearing a helmet.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

[pkpk]

Thankfully, not a crash but a sad case of stupidity.


Police: Motorcyclist riding with 2 little kids, no helmets said, 'We do it all the time'

    Article by: PAUL WALSH , Star Tribune
    Updated: September 19, 2012 - 12:50 PM



A motorcyclist is due in court to answer allegations that he was zipping along a Dakota County highway with his 3-year-old daughter seated in front of him and his 5-year-old boy son behind -- all without helmets on.

Michael B. Johnson, 44, of Mendota Heights, was charged in District Court by summons with child endangerment, a gross misdemeanor. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance in the case on Oct. 1.

Helmet use in Minnesota is required for anyone on a motorcycle who is 17 or younger. The charge alleges that Johnson put the children "in a situation likely to substantially harm" them physically or "cause [their] death."

"They're my kids, we do it all the time!" read a police report, quoting Johnson soon after he was stopped a few blocks east of Hwy. 13. "My kids ride their own motorcycles. I ride a motorcycle. . . . This is like . . . for our family. . . . Do you know what I mean?"

A telephone message was left Wednesday seeking comment from Johnson.

Police Chief Mike Aschenbrener said Wednesday, "I cannot imagine putting a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old on a motorcycle and heading out onto a state highway."

According to the criminal complaint:

A police officer spotted Johnson shortly after 8:20 p.m. Aug. 3 on northbound on the north end of Hwy. 13 (Sibley Memorial Hwy.) near Annapolis Street, with the two children riding along. All were without head gear. Only Johnson had on protective eyewear.

The officer turned around and "had to travel at a high rate of speed" to catch up to the motorcycle and make Johnson pull over. The speed limit on that stretch of highway is 40 miles per hour.

The boy's feet could not reach the foot rests, and there were no foot rests available for the girl.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

[Jared]

35W pileup leaves motorcyclist dead

    Article by: PAUL WALSH , Star Tribune
    Updated: September 19, 2012 - 8:34 AM



A four-vehicle pileup on a busy interstate in Bloomington left a motorcyclist dead, authorities said.

The crash occurred about 3:25 p.m. Tuesday on southbound Interstate 35W at 94th Street and killed motorcyclist Michael W. Sjoberg, 66, of Minneapolis, the State Patrol said. No one else was hurt.

According to the patrol:

Sjoberg "slowed abruptly" as traffic in front of him was slowing down. A car behind Sjoberg pushed the motorcycle into the car ahead. The car behind the motorcycle then veered into the left lane and struck a minivan.

All drivers had on their seat belts, and Sjoberg was wearing a helmet.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

Boo.  So a car rear-ending a motorcyclist and crushing him into another car is "slowing abruptly".  Is it just me or does the writeup make it sound like the MCist was at fault?

[pkpk]

The wording is similar in the trooper's report.  It's not beyond possibility that the motorcyclist panic braked if he briefly looked away, then saw a sea of brake lights when he looked back.  At any rate, fault will lie with the motorist for hitting him regardless for not giving enough space.

All available information for
incident number 12406400.

    Incident Number:    12406400    Incident Date/Time:    9/18/2012 3:24:00 PM
    MSP District:    2400    Incident Contact:    MN STATE PATROL DISTRICT 2400 - (651) 779-5900
    Number of Individuals:    4       
    Number of Vehicles:    4    
                   
    Location:    SB 35W I AT 94TH ST W    Road Type:    BLACK TOP
    Milepost:    NONE RECORDED    Road Condition:    DRY
    County:    HENNEPIN    Number of Lanes:    3
    Crash Type:    REAR END    Divided/Undivided:    UNDIVIDED ROADWAY
    Incident Classification:    FATAL    Hazardous Material:    NOT PRESENT
                   
    Assisting Agencies:
       
    BLOOMINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
                   
     Person 1:    WATERMAN, THOMAS J , 25 , OF BURNSVILLE MN , DRIVER OF VEH 1 , Phys. Cond. : NO APPARENT INJURY
     Person 2:    SJOBERG, MICHAEL W , 66 , OF MINNEAPOLIS MN , DRIVER OF VEH 2 , Phys. Cond. : DECEASED
     Person 3:    SIMONSON, RANDALL W , 20 , OF LAKEVILLE MN , DRIVER OF VEH 3 , Phys. Cond. : NO APPARENT INJURY
     Person 4:    LEE, SAMUEL Y , 25 , OF APPLE VALLEY MN , DRIVER OF VEH 4 , Phys. Cond. : NO APPARENT INJURY
     

    Vehicle 1:
       2005   MAZDA 3 

    Vehicle 2:
       1998   HARLEYDAVIDSON ROAD STRT 

    Vehicle 3:
       2002   PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 

    Vehicle 4:
       2001   TOYOTA SIENNA 
     
          
    IncidentDescription:    VEH 1 WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON 35W WHEN TRAFFIC SLOWED. VEH 1 STOPPED AND VEH 2 SLOWED ABRUPTLY CAUSING VEH 3 TO PUSH VEH 2 INTO VEH 1. VEH 3 THEN VEERED INTO THE LEFT LANE STRIKING VEH 4. THE RIDER OF VEH 2 SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.
            
    Information Complete:    INFORMATION BELIEVED COMPLETE   
    Last Updated:    9/18/2012 6:58:07 PM
         

[pkpk]

BTW, I noticed the same reporter (Paul Walsh) reports all motorcycle crashes for the Strib.  He would probably invite feedback on any wording issues.

[Stinger]

Or maybe Veh 1 stopped, Veh 2 was stopping and Veh 3 wasn't paying attention?

Just saying...

[pkpk]

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Motorcyclist hits farm tractor from behind, dies on C. Minn. highway

    Article by: PAUL WALSH , Star Tribune
    Updated: September 20, 2012 - 8:20 AM



A motorcyclist hit a slow-moving farm tractor from behind on a central Minnesota highway and was killed, authorities said.

The crash occurred about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday on southbound Hwy. 10, about half way between Sauk Rapids and Rice, according to the State Patrol.

Dead at the scene was John R. Mihlbauer, 45, of St. Cloud. The patrol said he was not wearing a helmet.

The tractor's driver, Charles M. Ertl, 56, of St. Joseph, Minn., was unhurt.

Ertl was driving his tractor in the right lane of the highway at 18 miles per hour and had three flashing lights illuminated, according to the patrol. Mihlbauer hit the tractor's mower blade mounted on the rear.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

[pkpk]

All available information for
incident number 12103789.

    Incident Number:    12103789    Incident Date/Time:    9/22/2012 8:54:00 AM
    MSP District:    2100    Incident Contact:    MN STATE PATROL DISTRICT 2100 - (507) 285-7406
    Number of Individuals:    2       
    Number of Vehicles:    1    
                   
    Location:    SB I 35    Road Type:    CONCRETE
    Milepost:    59    Road Condition:    DRY
    County:    RICE    Number of Lanes:    4
    Crash Type:    RAN OFF ROAD    Divided/Undivided:    DIVIDED ROADWAY
    Incident Classification:    SERIOUS INJURY    Hazardous Material:    NOT PRESENT
                   
    Assisting Agencies:
       
    RICE COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE
                   
     Person 1:    HOWE, REBECCA A , 33 , OF INVER GROVE HEIGHTS MN , DRIVER OF VEH 1 , Phys. Cond. : INJURY - NON LIFE THREATENING
     Person 2:    CARTER, KAYLA N , 15 , OF INVER GROVE HEIGHTS MN , PASSENGER OF VEH 1 , Phys. Cond. : INJURY - NON LIFE THREATENING
     

    Vehicle 1:
       2007   KAWASAKI STREET BIKE 
     
          
    IncidentDescription:    MC TRAVELLING SB ON I 35 LOST CONTROL AND RAN OFF THE ROAD. DRIVER LAID DOWN THE BIKE CAUSING INJURIES TO BOTH RIDERS.
            
    Information Complete:    INFORMATION IS NOT COMPLETE   
    Last Updated:    9/22/2012 10:23:23 AM

Individual Records

    Listed below are the individual records that match the criteria you specified.
    *Estimated age used only when true age is unknown.
    Case Number:    12103789    Seatbelt:    N/A
    Incident Date/Time:    9/22/2012 8:54:00 AM    Airbag:    N/A
    Info Released:    NOT RECORDED    Helmet:    YES
                   
    Person ID:    12103789V1P1    Age:    33
    Full Name:    HOWE, REBECCA A    Estimated Age:    ACTUAL AGE ABOVE
    Associated Vehicle:    12103789V1    Alcohol in System:    UNKNOWN
    Role in Crash:    DRIVER    Hospital:    REGIONS , ST PAUL, MN 
    Residence:    INVER GROVE HEIGHTS , MN , US    Physical Condition:    INJURY - NON LIFE THREATENING 
    Sex:    FEMALE       
    Relation to Driver:    SELF    Fatal Date:    N/A - NOT RECORDED
                   
       
                   

[pkpk]

http://www.piercecountyherald.com/event/article/id/48297/

New Richmond man killed in motorcycle-deer crash

CYLON - St. Croix County deputies responded to reports of a crash in the Town of Cylon on Thursday, Sept. 20.

The crash happened at about 7:30 p.m. on Coutny Road S, just east of 215th Street in the Town of Cylon.

When deputies arrived on scene, they discovered a motorcycle, driven by Richard J. Shade, 47, of New Richmond, had struck a deer, causing Shade to lose control of the vehicle.

Shade was ejected from the vehicle and air lifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn., with serious injuries. On Sept. 21, the sheriff's office was notified that Shade had died of injuries sustained in the crash.

According to the sheriff’s report, Shade was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Also assisting at the scene was Deer Park Fire and First Responders, New Richmond EMS and New Richmond Fire and Rescue.

The crash, which marks the 12th fatality of 2012, is under investigation by the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office.