Driver says his sneeze led to death of 15-year-old cyclist, Minnesota officials say
By Aspen Pflughoeft, The Charlotte Observer (TNS)
A driver who Minnesota authorities say struck and killed a 15-year-old cyclist told deputies he lost control because of a sneeze.
The Scott County Sheriff’s Office reported receiving a 911 call about an unresponsive cyclist at about 7:15 p.m. Friday, July 1. When deputies arrived on the scene, they found the teen cyclist had already died, the office said in a news release.
The intersection of the crash, Zachary Avenue and 260th Street East, is in the rural area of Cedar Lake Township, about 35 miles south of Minneapolis.
Local news outlets Fox 9 and Star Tribune identified the cyclist as 15-year-old Braxton Sorenson.
According to the news release, a driver approached deputies after they arrived at the crash site and told them he had hit the cyclist. Authorities said the driver had driven off the road and later realized he had hit the teen.
The 72-year-old driver later told investigators he had his cruise control set at 55 mph when he sneezed and lost control, entering the ditch, and hitting the cyclist as he got back on the road, according to court documents obtained by Star Tribune and Fox 9.
Deputies on the scene reported smelling alcohol on the driver and had him take a field sobriety test. He passed, but Star Tribune reported that the man told authorities he had mixed drinks earlier that evening.
In the backseat of his truck, authorities found a box of Smirnoff vodka, KSTP reported, citing the criminal complaint.
The driver was arrested on site and taken to the Scott County Jail. He appeared in court on Tuesday to face two charges of criminal vehicular homicide, Fox 9 reported. The driver will reappear in court later this month.
Sheriff Luke Hennen said in the news release, “Our hearts are broken for a family who lost their child yesterday. This is a tragic reminder that it is never okay to drink and drive.”
5 common causes of fatal pedestrian accidents — and how to protect yourself
Stanslavs // Shutterstock
Everyone knows that driving comes with its hazards. But going out for a walk can also be an intrinsically risky proposition. Impatient walkers, intoxicated drivers (and pedestrians), and stopping in crosswalks are mistakes that drivers and walkers alike can make that lead to catastrophic consequences.
The Patel Firm identified five common causes of fatal pedestrian accidents and broke down ways to stay protected. The forthcoming list was informed by 2019 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (released in 2021), as well as preliminary news reports from 2020 to 2022.
More than 6,700 pedestrians were killed in crashes in 2020, representing about a 5% increase from 2019, according to data from the Governors Highway Safety Association. In its report, the GHSA underscores several trends, such as reckless driving, insufficient lighting and signage, and increased sales of SUVs. The vast majority of American roads were constructed prior to the advent of the SUV, which means today’s pedestrians are contending with narrow roadways occupied by larger, heavier vehicles that pose significant threats to pedestrian safety.
American suburbs and most U.S. cities are largely planned around driving, with a few notable exceptions. But areas without sufficient sidewalk space for walkers, crosswalks, or clearly marked roadways put pedestrians at risk.
Stanslavs // Shutterstock
Everyone knows that driving comes with its hazards. But going out for a walk can also be an intrinsically risky proposition. Impatient walkers, intoxicated drivers (and pedestrians), and stopping in crosswalks are mistakes that drivers and walkers alike can make that lead to catastrophic consequences.
The Patel Firm identified five common causes of fatal pedestrian accidents and broke down ways to stay protected. The forthcoming list was informed by 2019 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (released in 2021), as well as preliminary news reports from 2020 to 2022.
More than 6,700 pedestrians were killed in crashes in 2020, representing about a 5% increase from 2019, according to data from the Governors Highway Safety Association. In its report, the GHSA underscores several trends, such as reckless driving, insufficient lighting and signage, and increased sales of SUVs. The vast majority of American roads were constructed prior to the advent of the SUV, which means today’s pedestrians are contending with narrow roadways occupied by larger, heavier vehicles that pose significant threats to pedestrian safety.
American suburbs and most U.S. cities are largely planned around driving, with a few notable exceptions. But areas without sufficient sidewalk space for walkers, crosswalks, or clearly marked roadways put pedestrians at risk.
5 common causes of fatal pedestrian accidents — and how to protect yourself
guteksk7 // Shutterstock
Intoxicated walkers can make fatal mistakes. Just like drivers, those thinking about walking home after a late night out at bars would do well to call a taxi instead. Inebriated pedestrians may struggle to remain on the sidewalk or walk in a straight line. If you’ve been drinking, you shouldn’t be behind the wheel, but you also shouldn’t be trying to cross dark streets late at night when your reaction times might be delayed.
guteksk7 // Shutterstock
Intoxicated walkers can make fatal mistakes. Just like drivers, those thinking about walking home after a late night out at bars would do well to call a taxi instead. Inebriated pedestrians may struggle to remain on the sidewalk or walk in a straight line. If you’ve been drinking, you shouldn’t be behind the wheel, but you also shouldn’t be trying to cross dark streets late at night when your reaction times might be delayed.
5 common causes of fatal pedestrian accidents — and how to protect yourself
imnoom // Shutterstock
Walking means no waiting for subways, and no inching along in traffic. But sometimes, the need for speed can get walkers into serious trouble. Failing to yield the right of way to drivers with green or even yellow lights is one of the most common accidents that walkers make. So don’t try to “beat” a car coming towards you across the street. Instead, follow all traffic signals and yield to an oncoming car even when you have the right of way.
imnoom // Shutterstock
Walking means no waiting for subways, and no inching along in traffic. But sometimes, the need for speed can get walkers into serious trouble. Failing to yield the right of way to drivers with green or even yellow lights is one of the most common accidents that walkers make. So don’t try to “beat” a car coming towards you across the street. Instead, follow all traffic signals and yield to an oncoming car even when you have the right of way.
5 common causes of fatal pedestrian accidents — and how to protect yourself
megaflopp // Shutterstock
Standing in a roadway or intersection is one of the most common ways that people get injured walking outside. Make sure that when you cross any kind of roadway, you are paying full attention to everything around you.
Even opting not to stand in the middle of an intersection on the island might be the safest choice. Your notification will be waiting for you on the sidewalk—or better yet, back at home.
megaflopp // Shutterstock
Standing in a roadway or intersection is one of the most common ways that people get injured walking outside. Make sure that when you cross any kind of roadway, you are paying full attention to everything around you.
Even opting not to stand in the middle of an intersection on the island might be the safest choice. Your notification will be waiting for you on the sidewalk—or better yet, back at home.
5 common causes of fatal pedestrian accidents — and how to protect yourself
oliverdelahaye // Shutterstock
Speeding is a growing cause for fatal pedestrian accidents. Since the start of the pandemic, cases of speeding drivers hitting people out for a walk have risen significantly. Drivers should remember that no matter the importance of getting to their destination quickly, they should never disobey the speed limit. The consequences could be fatal for someone else, and far more injurious to the driver than arriving five minutes late anywhere could ever be.
oliverdelahaye // Shutterstock
Speeding is a growing cause for fatal pedestrian accidents. Since the start of the pandemic, cases of speeding drivers hitting people out for a walk have risen significantly. Drivers should remember that no matter the importance of getting to their destination quickly, they should never disobey the speed limit. The consequences could be fatal for someone else, and far more injurious to the driver than arriving five minutes late anywhere could ever be.
5 common causes of fatal pedestrian accidents — and how to protect yourself
Ved_den // Shutterstock
Sometimes, drivers simply can’t see people out for a walk. This lack of visibility can be fatal. Morning walkers, in particular, will want to make sure that they have protections in place to make sure that they aren’t hit by drivers. One good strategy can be to wear a reflective vest when out for a walk. A bright silver color, for example, can catch the eye of drivers, making sure you don’t blend in with the trees or the road.
This story originally appeared on The Patel Firm and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Ved_den // Shutterstock
Sometimes, drivers simply can’t see people out for a walk. This lack of visibility can be fatal. Morning walkers, in particular, will want to make sure that they have protections in place to make sure that they aren’t hit by drivers. One good strategy can be to wear a reflective vest when out for a walk. A bright silver color, for example, can catch the eye of drivers, making sure you don’t blend in with the trees or the road.
This story originally appeared on The Patel Firm and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Despite there being fewer people on the road in 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdowns — total vehicle miles traveled decreased by 11% — fatal crashes increased by nearly 7% from 2019. There were 35,766 traffic incidents in the United States resulting in 38,824 deaths.
Forty-five percent of fatal crashes involved drivers who were speeding, impaired by alcohol, or not wearing a seat belt, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Across nearly every category, fatalities increased year over year. For example, bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities hit their highest point since the late 1980s. 2020 saw the highest number of deadly motorcycle crashes since tracking began 45 years prior.
To combat this worsening crisis, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced in January 2022 its National Roadway Safety Strategy. The plan leans heavily on technological changes such as requiring all new passenger vehicles to include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, technology that can detect impairment, and automated safety enforcement programs like speed cameras to improve roadway safety and account for human fallibility.
Infrastructure will also be a primary focus. Under President Joe Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, billions of dollars in grants will be awarded to states and municipalities to bolster physical improvements such as lower speed limits, safer road designs with dedicated bike and bus lanes, better lighting, and safer crosswalks.
To be included in this data, a crash must have occurred in the U.S. (including Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico), on a roadway open to the public, and there must be a fatality related to the crash within 30 days of the incident. Crashes can be categorized in multiple groups at once. For example, a crash that involved a driver with alcohol detected in their blood where a vehicle was also speeding would be counted in both categories.
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
Despite there being fewer people on the road in 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdowns — total vehicle miles traveled decreased by 11% — fatal crashes increased by nearly 7% from 2019. There were 35,766 traffic incidents in the United States resulting in 38,824 deaths.
Forty-five percent of fatal crashes involved drivers who were speeding, impaired by alcohol, or not wearing a seat belt, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Across nearly every category, fatalities increased year over year. For example, bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities hit their highest point since the late 1980s. 2020 saw the highest number of deadly motorcycle crashes since tracking began 45 years prior.
To combat this worsening crisis, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced in January 2022 its National Roadway Safety Strategy. The plan leans heavily on technological changes such as requiring all new passenger vehicles to include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, technology that can detect impairment, and automated safety enforcement programs like speed cameras to improve roadway safety and account for human fallibility.
Infrastructure will also be a primary focus. Under President Joe Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, billions of dollars in grants will be awarded to states and municipalities to bolster physical improvements such as lower speed limits, safer road designs with dedicated bike and bus lanes, better lighting, and safer crosswalks.
To be included in this data, a crash must have occurred in the U.S. (including Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico), on a roadway open to the public, and there must be a fatality related to the crash within 30 days of the incident. Crashes can be categorized in multiple groups at once. For example, a crash that involved a driver with alcohol detected in their blood where a vehicle was also speeding would be counted in both categories.
Distracted driving is defined as anything that takes a driver’s attention away from operating the vehicle safely, and includes three subcategories: manual, visual, and cognitive distractions. One of the most common distractions—texting while driving—involves all three. You could drive the length of a football field in the amount of time it takes to read a text. A study conducted by the University of Utah found that impairments associated with using a cellphone while driving can be as severe as those associated with driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08%. Among truck drivers and heavy vehicle operators, texting made the risk of a crash 23 times higher than nondistracted driving.
Canva
- Total number of incidents: 2,880 (8% of total)
- Total number of fatalities: 3,142 (8%)
Distracted driving is defined as anything that takes a driver’s attention away from operating the vehicle safely, and includes three subcategories: manual, visual, and cognitive distractions. One of the most common distractions—texting while driving—involves all three. You could drive the length of a football field in the amount of time it takes to read a text. A study conducted by the University of Utah found that impairments associated with using a cellphone while driving can be as severe as those associated with driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08%. Among truck drivers and heavy vehicle operators, texting made the risk of a crash 23 times higher than nondistracted driving.
Young drivers are inexperienced drivers and are more likely to partake in risky behavior behind the wheel, like texting or not wearing a seatbelt as a driver or a passenger. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of crashes is higher among teens ages 16–19 than among any other age group. A 2019 survey of teen drivers found nearly 40% texted or emailed while driving at least once within the previous month. Teen drivers are also more likely to speed and less likely to give the appropriate amount of headway between cars. Teen drivers are three times more likely than any other age group, per mile driven, to be in a fatal crash.
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- Total number of incidents: 4,405 (12% of total)
- Total number of fatalities: 5,037 (13%)
Young drivers are inexperienced drivers and are more likely to partake in risky behavior behind the wheel, like texting or not wearing a seatbelt as a driver or a passenger. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of crashes is higher among teens ages 16–19 than among any other age group. A 2019 survey of teen drivers found nearly 40% texted or emailed while driving at least once within the previous month. Teen drivers are also more likely to speed and less likely to give the appropriate amount of headway between cars. Teen drivers are three times more likely than any other age group, per mile driven, to be in a fatal crash.
Even a small amount of alcohol is enough to impair driving ability, including thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination; roughly 16% of drivers in fatal crashes with alcohol detected in their systems fall below the legal blood alcohol content limit of .08. Even with a blood alcohol concentration of just .02, drivers can experience a decline in visual function such as tracking a moving target and have a more difficult time performing two tasks at once. At the legal limit of .08, a driver’s ability to process information, control their speed, and concentrate are impaired. In 2020, half of the drivers in fatal crashes who tested positive for alcohol had BACs at least twice the legal limit. Since the NHTSA began tracking motor vehicle deaths by alcohol involvement in 1982, fatalities have decreased from 48% to 30%.
Canva
- Total number of incidents: 7,341 (21% of total)
- Total number of fatalities: 8,163 (21%)
Even a small amount of alcohol is enough to impair driving ability, including thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination; roughly 16% of drivers in fatal crashes with alcohol detected in their systems fall below the legal blood alcohol content limit of .08. Even with a blood alcohol concentration of just .02, drivers can experience a decline in visual function such as tracking a moving target and have a more difficult time performing two tasks at once. At the legal limit of .08, a driver’s ability to process information, control their speed, and concentrate are impaired. In 2020, half of the drivers in fatal crashes who tested positive for alcohol had BACs at least twice the legal limit. Since the NHTSA began tracking motor vehicle deaths by alcohol involvement in 1982, fatalities have decreased from 48% to 30%.
- Total number of incidents: 10,136 (28% of total)
- Total number of fatalities: 11,258 (29%)
The number of fatalities in speeding-related crashes increased by 17% from 2019. For many drivers, speeding is a common practice. Roughly half of drivers said they exceeded the speed limit by 15 mph on a freeway in the previous 30 days, and over 40% reported driving in excess of 10 miles per hour over the speed limit in residential areas, according to a 2019 national telephone survey conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Speeding can also mean driving too fast for the road conditions; going the speed limit of 50 miles per hour on a country road under perfect conditions is too fast when roads are wet or icy. Speed was a factor in 21% of fatal crashes on wet roads, and 42% of fatal crashes on roads with ice or frost.
Canva
- Total number of incidents: 10,136 (28% of total)
- Total number of fatalities: 11,258 (29%)
The number of fatalities in speeding-related crashes increased by 17% from 2019. For many drivers, speeding is a common practice. Roughly half of drivers said they exceeded the speed limit by 15 mph on a freeway in the previous 30 days, and over 40% reported driving in excess of 10 miles per hour over the speed limit in residential areas, according to a 2019 national telephone survey conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Speeding can also mean driving too fast for the road conditions; going the speed limit of 50 miles per hour on a country road under perfect conditions is too fast when roads are wet or icy. Speed was a factor in 21% of fatal crashes on wet roads, and 42% of fatal crashes on roads with ice or frost.
- Total number of incidents: 15,033 (42% of total)
- Total number of fatalities: 16,665 (43%)
Urban
- Total number of incidents: 20,233 (57%)
- Total number of fatalities: 21,650 (56%)
The characteristics of urban and rural roads can vary significantly. While roughly 1 in 5 people in the U.S. live in rural areas, and 30% of the vehicle miles traveled occur in rural areas, roughly half of fatal vehicle crashes happen on rural roads. One explanation is that crashes on these types of roads tend to be more severe than in urban areas, and access to emergency services and medical care is delayed. Drivers more often travel at higher speeds or exceed the speed limit, and a lack of medians or guardrails increases the likelihood of a collision with other vehicles or objects, according to a study by the University of Iowa.
- Total number of incidents: 15,033 (42% of total)
- Total number of fatalities: 16,665 (43%)
Urban
- Total number of incidents: 20,233 (57%)
- Total number of fatalities: 21,650 (56%)
The characteristics of urban and rural roads can vary significantly. While roughly 1 in 5 people in the U.S. live in rural areas, and 30% of the vehicle miles traveled occur in rural areas, roughly half of fatal vehicle crashes happen on rural roads. One explanation is that crashes on these types of roads tend to be more severe than in urban areas, and access to emergency services and medical care is delayed. Drivers more often travel at higher speeds or exceed the speed limit, and a lack of medians or guardrails increases the likelihood of a collision with other vehicles or objects, according to a study by the University of Iowa.
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