Auto Accidents

There was a two-car crash Saturday night in West St. Paul. All six occupants were taken to Regions Hospital where one woman died from her injuries.

At about 9 p.m., a 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier pulled out from the mall parking lot at Robert Street and Marie Avenue, into the path of a 2000 Mercury Mystique. The Mercury broadsided the Cavalier and 2 people were ejected from the broadsided vehicle, including 26-year-old Leslie J. Garvia who died from head and abdominal injuries. Ms. Garvia was not wearing a seat belt.

Another passenger, 26-year-old Jorge Zuniga, was also ejected and suffered non life-threatening head injuries. Zuniga was not wearing a seat belt either. The driver of the Cavalier, Fabio Dierings, and 2 other passengers sustained non life-threatening injuries. Lynette Landrum, driver of the Mercury, of West St. Paul, suffered minor injuries.

Four of the six people involved in the car accident were wearing seat belts. Alcohol is not suspected, according to police.

List of Names Released by Minnesota State Patrol:

• Leslie J. Garcia, 26, St. Paul, MN
• Jorge R. Zuniga, 26, Columbia Heights, MN
• Kimberly J. Fuentes, 8, St. Paul, MN
• Breidy Garcia, 19, St. Paul, MN
• Fabio R. Dierings, 23, St. Paul, MN
• Lynette J. Landrum, 40, West St. Paul, MN

Who Is At Fault?

Minnesota is a No Fault Insurance state; but in the event of a wrongful death due to the negligence of another, which includes inattentive driving, the next of kin can recover compensation. The monetary damages may include:

• medical expenses
• funeral expenses
• loss of companionship
• loss of advice
• loss of potential earnings

Contact a Minneapolis car accident attorney at (612) TSR-TIME, to retain legal representation. Our partners are skilled, aggressive, and compassionate lawyers with years of experience handling car accident and wrongful death cases.

A 91-year-old woman was struck by an SUV while crossing Highway 12, in Cokato, Minnesota. She died before she could be airlifted from the scene.

Ruby Voight had just gone shopping. She was walking home at about 5:15 p.m. with her packages in the basket of her walker. The 1996 Chevy Tahoe, driven by 55-year-old David Rostomily, was driving westbound on Hwy 12. Ruby was in the crosswalk at Johnson Avenue NW when she was struck.

Wright County Sheriff’s Office and the State Patrol were at the scene. They will continue to investigate the accident. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor. Mr. Rostomily stopped and is cooperating with authorities.

Helping Accident Victims and Families

In pedestrian accidents, especially when a wrongful death has occurred, it is vital to interview eyewitnesses and protect evidence. The loss of a parent or grandparent is very difficult and if the estate was not in order, a significant amount of money could have been lost to taxes.

The attorneys with TSR Injury Law have years of experience handling pedestrian accidents and wrongful death cases. We will support you through this difficult time by providing legal counsel, doing all of the paperwork, and filing your claim. Call (612) TSR-TIME and speak to a licensed Minneapolis personal injury attorney or submit our free consultation form and a member from our legal team will contact you shortly.

Free Consultation – Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a North Mankato man was killed in a crash on December 10th when his car was hit head-on by a semi-truck in Nicollet County.

Authorities state that the crash happened at approximately 4 p.m. on highway 169 near Highway 14. The 63-year-old victim was driving his two-door Jeep southbound on Highway 169 when he jumped the median after losing control over the vehicle. When he entered the northbound lane of the highway, he was hit head-on by a semi-truck.

The State Patrol cites icy road conditions as the cause of the crash.

The victim has been identified as James Hughes. Hughes was previously employed with the St. Peter School District as an assistant principal. He had been employed with the district for 22 years and had retired in 2008. He was also student council advisor during his time with the district with officials stating he was a very well-liked individual.

Although slippery conditions are cited as the main reason for the crash the Minnesota State patrol is being assisted by the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s office in the investigation.

The Iowa semi-truck driver received minor injuries. Hughes died on the scene and is the third death that has been blamed on the snow storm that passed over Minnesota that weekend. One other death occurred while a man was shoveling snow from his sidewalk and the second death occurred when a semi-truck lost control on Highway 61 and struck a man in his family car and an SUV.

A pedestrian in Shoreview was hit and killed by a car recently near Vadnais Lake and now authorities are investigating what happened.

Police say that the pedestrian accident occurred on rice Street in Shoreview. When they arrived, they found Ryan Earl Esslinger, 24, on the ground unconscious, but he was breathing. Paramedics arrived on the scene where they treated him and transported him to an area hospital.

The State patrol says that Esslinger, a St. Paul resident, was riding his skateboard northbound on Interstate 694 in the Rice Street area. He was riding along a wooded area that sits along Vadnais Lake on its western edge. That is where e was struck by a car that was also heading northbound.

After being taken to the hospital, Esslinger died at around 9 p.m.

The driver, a 21-year-old female, called 911 and cooperated with officers when they arrived. She was wearing a seatbelt and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The name of the driver has not been released since the accident is still being investigated. It is clear that the driver striking Esslinger was not intentional, but no details have been released pending the outcome of the investigation as to whether Esslinger may have fallen, rode the skateboard in front of the car, or if the car temporarily left the road and struck Esslinger.

The families of victims are often unsure what to do following an unexpected accident. At TSR Injury Law, our Minneapolis personal injury lawyers have many years of experience handling these types of cases and can help to explain the legal options that may be available. For more information, we encourage you to call us today at (612) TSR-TIME or to complete the “Free Case Evaluation” form on this page.

Free Consultation – Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

Four people were killed in a crash involving a car, a semi truck, and a minivan. The accident happened Wednesday, about 2:30 p.m, near Albert Lea.

A woman driving a Toyota sedan swerved and hit a semi truck head-on, which caused the semi truck to lose control and swerve into oncoming traffic. The semi truck hit a Honda minivan head-on. Following the serious auto accident, the driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene and 3 of the 4 occupants of the minivan were killed. The truck driver did not sustain serious injury.

The accident occurred on Interstate 90, near Hwy 13, where the highway is under construction and traffic flow is down to two lanes. Rain had been heavy just prior to the accident, but the Minnesota State Patrol does not think weather was a factor.

MN DOT closed the interstate near the crash site while crews cleaned up. A reconstruction team was called in to determine what happened.

A trucker was the cause of a fatal accident. Now the wrongful death trial for that trucker has been cancelled.

Instead of facing the families of the three victims, the truck driver, Seth Allan Strehler and his trucking company decided to settle. Strehler was acquitted of a charge of careless driving.

After the acquittal, the families of the victims sued Strehler’s trucking company and Hagen Trucking Inc. for wrongful death. The combined trial was scheduled to take place February 4th.

When the accident occurred, Strehler, 35, was driving northbound on U.S. 61 in a semi in August when he rear-ended a Dodge Caravan with three women inside. Carolyn Anderson, 59, died at the scene. Marilyn Wanner, 72, died a number of weeks later. Rosie Bongiovanni, 88, was declared dead at Regions Hospital after being airlifted. Strehler received no injuries.

The Hugo prosecutor moved forward with charges against Strehler after the Washington County attorney’s office said they did not want to press charges.

In the criminal complaint, Strehler was quoted as saying the Caravan suddenly slowed down and did not signal. He said the van stopped before he had a chance to stop the truck to avoid the collision.

Now, Strehler and the families have reached a final settlement in the civil case. Although Strehler could have gone to court and possibly not been found liable for the deaths of the three women, a full and final settlement can avoid the opposite from occurring.

Minnesota law allows a windfall settlement in cases where medical bills are partially covered by Medicare, even if the family doesn’t have to pay anything out of pocket for treatment. This was a situation that Strehler faced in at least one of the cases.

Strehler’s attorney said that Strehler is now able to move forward from the ordeal. The accident terms of the settlement have not yet been made available.

If you are involved in a serious collision involving a commercial vehicle, it’s important to have accurate legal advice. Contact a Minneapolis truck accident lawyer from TSR Injury Law for a free, no obligation consultation. There are no upfront fees if we agree to take on your case.

TSR Injury Law – Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

The love of a mother knows no bounds. Yesterday a mother gave her life for her 3-month-old daughter.

Oakdale police reported that Stacey Morgan, 33, must have realized that she was going to be struck from behind, because at the last second she shoved the baby stroller away from danger. Her daughter was ejected from the stroller, but since she was strapped into a car seat on top of the stroller, she was uninjured.

The accident happened in the 6900 block of 29th Street, in Oakdale, just before 8 a.m. Ms. Morgan was running east on 29th Street. A 16-year-old male was driving a 1997 Infiniti, in the same direction, and struck Ms. Morgan from behind.

Ms. Morgan sustained serious head injuries and was transported to Regions Hospital. She died a short time later.

Minnesota State Patrol will help further investigate the incident. Alcohol is not suspected as a factor in this tragedy.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

There are many cases of pedestrian accidents where the driver was inattentive, speeding, on the cell phone, or was texting while driving. The Minnesota personal injury lawyers at TSR Injury Law have the skill and expertise to investigate and take those findings to build a persuasive, winning case. We have handled many pedestrian accident cases, including those involving personal injury and wrongful death. Call (612) TSR-TIME for efficient, aggressive representation. If you prefer, you may submit our contact form.

No fees. No cost. You do not pay unless you win.

A Dassel-Cokato school bus crash near Kingston injured 8 students Friday morning. The State Patrol reported the crash occurred at 7:15 a.m., at Highway 15 and County Road 21, north of Dassel.

There was dense fog with visibility less than 200′ at the time of the accident. The Dassel-Cokato School Bus, driven by John Rokala, 78, stopped at the stop sign, then proceeded to cross Highway 15. The school bus was hit by a 2004 Chevrolet pick-up truck driven by Daniel Schneider, 28, of Kimball.

According to the State Patrol report, there were 17 students on the bus. Two students were taken to a Litchfield hospital and six were taken to a hospital in Hutchinson. None of the injuries were life-threatening. The drivers of the bus and pickup truck also had minor injuries.

Meeker County Sheriff’s office and the State Patrol were on the scene investigating the crash. Because the crash involved a school bus, investigators will thoroughly inspect the bus. Personnel from Dassel Fire and Rescue squads, Watkins – Cokato ambulances, and Gold Cross Ambulance also responded.

Who Can File a Claim?

It is scary to have your child injured while riding on a school bus. When you entrust your child to the care of the school bus driver, you never expect that your child will be injured in a school bus crash.

If you have a child who has who has sustained an injury in a school bus accident, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer. The Minneapolis personal injury attorneys at TSR Injury Law, have years of experience and will work tirelessly to ensure you receive fair compensation for your child’s injuries. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our contact form.

A semi truck carrying an oversized load on Highway 59 is responsible for the death of a passing motorist when the contents of the truck spilled.

The victim was 61-year-old Granite Falls resident George Piasecki. He died after the load fell from the truck and onto his car just north of Milan.

The accident occurred when the load that the truck was transporting hit a bridge and fell onto the car. The State Patrol has said that Poaseclo was driving his Toyota Camry north when the semi, traveling southbound, passed Piasecki under a railroad bridge.

The 66-year-old driver of the semi, Dennis Clark of Utah, didn’t suffer any injuries in the accident.

The accident is currently under investigation. Oversized shipments require route surveys, which the state can then specify which routes can and cannot be taken based on the size of the load. This is subject to being given the correct details regarding the load. This information is needed is to oversized loads from hitting bridges or from becoming hazards in other ways. At the same time, drivers are encouraged to be vigilant of bridge heights and other traffic situations that may require alternate routes.

There are no details available at this time regarding the preparation involved before the shipment was transported for delivery.

Incidents like these bring to light how important it can be for the families of victims to understand that they have rights. A reputable truck accident lawyer in Minneapolis can help to review the specifics of the incident and the advise the family of the legal options that may be available. From holding negligent parties accountable for their actions, to recovering compensation for our clients, at TSR Injury Law we have the experience to fully litigate a truck accident lawsuit.

TSR Injury Law – Free Consultation. Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

Last Thursday, in Hugo, a semi truck rear ended a minivan killing 2 of the 3 occupants. Carolyn Anderson, 59, stopped to make a left turn at 159th Street when her van was hit by the semi truck driven by Seth Strehler, 32, of Rockford, Minnesota. Carolyn died at the scene. Her 88-year-old aunt, Rose Bongiovanni, of St. Paul, was taken to Regions Hospital, where she later died. Minnesota State Patrol said that with all of the new development in the area cross traffic has increased. It is vital for drivers to be alert and slow down.

Saturday, in Carver County, a three-vehicle fatal accident took the lives of two people and injured four others, including 3 children. Two of the three drivers died in the chain reaction semi truck crash, Sandra Babatz, 45, of Norwood Young America, and Juan Overa, 35 of Sullivan, Texas.

Semi truck driver Gordon Curtiss, 52, of Hutchinson, was traveling east on Highway 212 in a 2007 Kenworth semi truck. Sandra Babatz was also going east driving a 2003 Pontiac Vibe. Highway 212 is just two lanes at that point, Babatz stopped on the highway to make a left turn off the highway, onto CR 51 going north. Babatz was rear ended by Curtiss and pushed into the other lane of traffic. She was broadsided by a 1999 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Olvera.

Both of these accidents highlight the need for more attentiveness to driving, especially on two-lane highways. If either of these accidents happened because of negligence on the part of the semi truck driver, a trustee can be named by the courts and wrongful death claims can be filed.

Acts of negligence:

• driver negligence which includes texting while driving, dialing cellphone, eating, driving while tired
• equipment violations
• negligent hiring which means a trucking company may have hired an unqualified driver
• over hours

Help For The Families of Victims

At the time of the accident, you lost a loved one and your world crumbled and changed forever. You need someone to help carry the load. The Minneapolis personal injury attorneys at TSR Injury Law can help you maneuver the legal system, do all of the paperwork, research and access all of the insurance policies available, and file your claim. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

Last weekend brought to light again the need for stiffer penalties for drunk driving. There was another needless death. A multiple repeat-offender was apparently driving drunk again, crashed into a vehicle, killing the 17-year-old driver.

Todd Lifto, 44, drove his 2001 Chevrolet Silverado pickup the wrong way on County Road 35, with no headlights — and speeding. He crashed into the 1998 Toyota Camry that Jonathon Kramnic was driving. Jonathon was airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center, Robbinsdale, where he died Sunday.

The crash occurred on Saturday about 6:30 p.m., on County 35, near Jamison Avenue, in St. Michael. Lifto was charge on Wednesday with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide. One of the counts is based on the use of alcohol before the crash, according to Tom Kelly, the Wright County Attorney. The drunk driving charges have not been filed, pending the test results.

What Options Are Available For Victims’ Families?

In a case like this, the victim’s family can file for punitive damages as well as a wrongful death beneficiary claim. The laws regarding Minnesota Wrongful Death are complex. It is vital to retain an experienced, knowledgeable law firm to represent you in your Minnesota wrongful death claim.

The basis for a wrongful death claim is not about the damages to the deceased, but the resultant loss for the surviving spouse, family members, or parents. The losses include most factors that place burdens on the survivors, including:

• loss of salary
• health benefits
• pain and suffering
• funeral expenses
• burial expenses

Pecuniary damages can also be included in the claim to receive compensation for:

• loss of services, protection, care
• loss of companionship
• loss of advice

Contact a Minneapolis wrongful death attorney at (612) TSR-TIME. Our partners have decades of combined experience and are consistently named Minnesota Super Lawyers.

In October, a teacher bicycling was killed in a traffic accident involving a semi near Belgrade. The victim was also a coach in the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa district.

The teacher, Richard Vos, 38, a BBE wrestling coach and math teacher, was killed while he was bicycling along U.S. 71 around 5 a.m. when a semi, driven by Brian L. Anderson, 50, was heading southbound and hit Vos.

Vos was wearing a helmet and Anderson sustained no injuries. A set of headphones were also found near the scene, but it is not clear if they played a role in the crash.

The BBE School District cancelled all of their sports activities that day in memory of their beloved teacher.

In the school’s blog, they stated that Vos began teaching for the school district in 1998 and was assistant coach of the varsity wrestling team until 2001. He then became the head coach and coached the junior high track and field team. The school also said that Vos worked very hard to build the school’s wrestling program. He convinced parents to become volunteers and was an instrumental player in getting the school to convert unused classrooms into a wrestling practice area.

The BBE school district has said that he will be dearly missed by the students, his fellow teachers, and the community as a whole.

Later on the day Vos was killed, his family visited the scene to mourn his loss.

Voss leaves behind his wife and two children.