Distracted Driving Suspected in Two Serious Crashes

(KNSI) – A 49-year-old Sauk Rapids man was seriously injured in a crash Thursday night, and a distracted driver may be to blame.

The Minnesota State Patrol says a 20-year-old man from Staples was driving east on Highway 95 at 180th Avenue in Glendorado Township about 7:20 when he swerved to miss a car that was stopped to make a turn.

Crash investigators say that driver hit a Toyota Camry driven by Brad Eager in the intersection with 180th Avenue. Both men were taken to St. Cloud Hospital. The state patrol says Eager suffered life-threatening injuries. The other driver was also hurt.

The crash report says distracted driving due to cell phone use on the part of the other driver may have been a contributing factor, and the investigation is ongoing.

This is the second serious crash potentially involving distracted driving this week.

On Wednesday, the state patrol says a 17-year-old boy was going east on Highway 7 in Watertown Township and allegedly looked down at his cell phone, crossed over the center line, and sideswiped a tow truck hauling another vehicle and going west on Highway 7. That vehicle was knocked off the tow bed, and the teen driver then made contact with a semi-truck that was also headed west. Investigators say that contact sent the boy’s SUV spinning and crashing full on into the semi.

The teen had two other passengers in his vehicle; a 17-year-old male from Delano and a 17-year-old girl from Montrose. All three suffered life-threatening injuries and were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center. The state patrol says it’s not clear if the two boys were wearing their seatbelts but says the girl was not.

The driver of the semi and the tow truck driver were wearing their seat belts and hurt, but the crash report says they were not taken to the hospital.

___