(PRESS RELEASE) – As traffic fatalities across the state surge to levels above previous years, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety is calling for all motorists to drive smart to help reduce the number of deaths on our roads.
Seventeen-year-old Dylan Delaney became the first Minnesota fatality of 2020 when the vehicle he rode in crashed with a semi on Jan. 1.
Dylan’s mother, Sarah, responded to the crash as an EMT, only to learn her own son was involved in the fatality when she arrived on scene. Sarah will speak at Tuesday’s news conference about her family’s loss and how traffic fatalities impact lives forever.
Representing each life lost in 2020 were more than 300 empty chairs, symbolizing those who will not be coming home for dinner or be there for the upcoming holidays.
- To date, preliminary numbers show 308 people died on Minnesota roads since Jan. 1.
- That compares with 288 last year at this time.
- The state reported 300 deaths on Oct. 12
- 300 deaths were reported on Oct. 29 in 2019.
- Of the 308 fatalities so far 208 (68%) occurred in Greater Minnesota.
- The 308 fatalities include:
- 191 motor vehicle occupants compared with 201 reported this time last year.
- 56 motorcyclists compared with 40 reported this time last year.
- 35 pedestrians compared with 30 reported this time last year.
- Nine bicyclists compared with eight reported this time last year.
- 94 are speed-related compared with 62 this time last year.
- 90 are alcohol-related compared with 93 this time last year.
- 24 are distracted-related compared with 32 this time last year.
- 77 fatalities involved an unbelted motorist compared with 58 this time last year.
Assistant Public Safety Commissioner Booker Hodges said many crashes have to do with speeding, and he issued this stark reminder at the press conference: “Rules matter. We need people, quite frankly, to slow the hell down.”
Fatalities by County:
|
Aitkin: 3 |
Houston: 1 |
Pine: 4 |
|
Anoka: 14 |
Hubbard: 2 |
Polk: 2 |
|
Becker: 6 |
Isanti: 7 |
Pope: 2 |
|
Beltrami: 6 |
Itasca: 7 |
Ramsey: 16 |
|
Benton: 1 |
Kanabec: 3 |
Redwood: 1 |
|
Big Stone: 2 |
Kandiyohi: 3 |
Renville: 1 |
|
Blue Earth: 4 |
Koochiching:2 |
Rice: 5 |
|
Carlton: 2 |
Lac Qui Parle: 1 |
Roseau: 1 |
|
Carver: 5 |
Lake: 2 |
Scott: 5 |
|
Cass: 5 |
Le Sueur: 1 |
Sherburne: 13 |
|
Chisago: 4 |
Marshall: 2 |
Sibley: 1 |
|
Clay: 4 |
Martin: 3 |
St Louis: 15 |
|
Cook: 1 |
McLeod: 3 |
Stearns: 10 |
|
Cottonwood:1 |
Meeker: 2 |
Steele: 3 |
|
Crow Wing: 4 |
Mille Lacs: 1 |
Swift: 1 |
|
Dakota: 12 |
Morrison: 2 |
Todd: 3 |
|
Dodge: 3 |
Mower: 2 |
Wabasha: 4 |
|
Douglas: 4 |
Nicollet: 4 |
Washington: 5 |
|
Faribault: 1 |
Nobles: 2 |
Watonwan: 2 |
|
Fillmore: 2 |
Norman: 2 |
Wilkin: 2 |
|
Freeborn: 4 |
Olmsted: 11 |
Winona:1 |
|
Goodhue: 2 |
Otter Tail: 9 |
Wright: 5 |
|
Grant: 1 |
Pennington: 1 |
Yellow Medicine: 3 |
|
Hennepin: 39 |
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