DPS: Stearns County Fourth Most Traffic Deaths, Minnesota Nears 400

(KNSI) – Public Safety Officials say Stearns County has the fourth most fatal car accidents in 2021 as Minnesota nears its 400 death. Data shows Stearns County has recorded 15 of those deaths with only Hennepin 57, Ramsey 20 and Anoka County 16, with more fatal crashes so far in 2021. The death count through Monday morning was 392, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety, on pace for the deadliest year on the roads in 14 years. Officials say 124 deaths are speed-related. In 2007, Minnesota recorded 510 traffic deaths and is on pace for 475 this year.

Along with the deaths, officials say around 40,000 people have been hurt in crashes on Minnesota roads. The DPS held a press conference on Monday to encourage employers to ask their workers to drive safely. In March, Kellen Schmidt was working as a lineman for a utility company and suffered a traumatic brain injury after getting sideswiped by a semi while in his truck at a work site.

“My life has changed. Before my brain injury, I was very active. Life was great. I married a beautiful wife. We’ve been trying to have kids. We’ve been trying to start a family and now our life is on hold.”

The 33-year-old says every night when he goes to bed, he deals with severe headaches that make it feel like someone is cutting his brain out. Schmidt says he often hopes he doesn’t wake up in the morning. He had a message to deliver to all drivers.

“Put both hands on the steering wheel and just drive when you’re driving through road construction zones. Remember to just drive. Look up, slow down and drive the speed limit.”

DPS Assistant Commissioner Booker Hodges has been in law enforcement for 17 years and has told many their loved ones have died.

“I’ve had the misfortune of calling families and telling them that their loved ones have been killed as a result of a shooting. I’ve also had the misfortune of notifying families that their loved ones would not be coming home because they were killed in the crash. And I can tell you, all of them had the same cry. I can tell you the sounding of their hearts. Shattering sounded all the same.”

Hodges is among those pleading with Minnesota drivers to slow down and pay attention behind the wheel before it’s too late. Minnesota Safety Council President Paul Aasen talked about why they’re targeting employers to get their message across.

“Why employers, employers have tremendous reach. When you think about a message that comes home with an employee, it reaches them reaches their family reaches their neighbors, it reaches their friends. It’s a great way to reach a lot of people at one time. Employers are also a trusted voice.”

Safety officials reminded all Minnesota drivers to give plenty of space between cars, slow down by at least five miles per hour when driving, and buckle your seatbelt.

Traffic Deaths By County in Minnestoa Through October 14th:

Aitkin: 3

Itasca: 8

Ramsey: 30

Anoka: 16

Jackson: 3

Redwood: 1

Becker: 4

Kanabec: 3

Renville: 1

Beltrami: 6

Kandiyohi: 6