Two die in head-on collision in Lake Elmo

Two people died in a head-on crash on a busy Lake Elmo thoroughfare during a heavy downpour this afternoon.

[Master of Clowny]

That's too bad.

[ZenBirdist]

I know this exact spot very well and it's been the site of many accidents over the years, even in perfect weather.

How very sad for the families, my heart goes out to them.

[Near-by resident]

The road is very dangerous and is rarely patrolled for speed control. I once verified that the driver ahead of me was going 80 MPH. Once was enough for me, but probably not for the driver in the lead.

The accident is probably as much MnDot's fault as the responsible driver's. MnDot is prepared to shell out $38 MM in taxpayer funds for incompetent management of the 35W bridge, but won't pay out a dime for 1,000's of other deaths and injured persons which take place every year, due to poorly designed roads and grossly inadequate law enforcement. Most State roads designed for careful drivers to safely travel at 75-80 MPH, when traffic is very light, but are posted 55 or 65 MPH just to irritate the owners of gas guzzling vehicles, and Corvette types. They should be designed for safe and scenic travel with violating cars photographed and made to pay enough to prevent further violations -- Oh, that is the Dept of Public Safety. Too bad they aren't one operation with MnDot, responsible for safe and secure, and scenic travel. But "divide and conquer" is Minnesota's way to avoid blame and make expensive and life threatening decisions.

[A friend]

Lacey will be greatly missed by all her firends and family. She had a smile that could light up an entire room.

[Tommy]

May God bless everyone involved!!!

[A Mom]

Near-by resident wrote:

The road is very dangerous and is rarely patrolled for speed control. I once verified that the driver ahead of me was going 80 MPH. Once was enough for me, but probably not for the driver in the lead.
The accident is probably as much MnDot's fault as the responsible driver's. MnDot is prepared to shell out $38 MM in taxpayer funds for incompetent management of the 35W bridge, but won't pay out a dime for 1,000's of other deaths and injured persons which take place every year, due to poorly designed roads and grossly inadequate law enforcement. Most State roads designed for careful drivers to safely travel at 75-80 MPH, when traffic is very light, but are posted 55 or 65 MPH just to irritate the owners of gas guzzling vehicles, and Corvette types. They should be designed for safe and scenic travel with violating cars photographed and made to pay enough to prevent further violations -- Oh, that is the Dept of Public Safety. Too bad they aren't one operation with MnDot, responsible for safe and secure, and scenic travel. But "divide and conquer" is Minnesota's way to avoid blame and make expensive and life threatening decisions.

I couldn't agree with you more! I live near there too, and have driven where the accident happened many times. It's dangerous on the best of days. I also agree with what you said on MNDOT. You are right on with that one!!

[A Mom]

A friend wrote:

Lacey will be greatly missed by all her firends and family. She had a smile that could light up an entire room.

I know this sounds generic, but I truly am so sorry!!

[Tyrone]

Condolences to those involved and their loved ones. Near-by resident and A mom, you are naive. Accidents happen, don't always try to place blame. MN/DOT folows standards and guidelines based on the USDOT, FHWA and other organizations that know much more than you. "They should be designed for safe and scenic travel with violating cars photographed " Great comment... "but are posted 55 or 65 MPH just to irritate the owners of gas guzzling vehicles" even more inane...

[Mel A]

Lacey was a an awesome person and it is too early there are things that i wish i could have said i am not happy. She was a happy beautiful woman with much potential it is sad when things like this happen.She will always be remembered in my heart.

[speedy]

spoken like a good minnesota socialist,,, thank you commrade.The accident is probably as much MnDot's fault as the responsible driver's. MnDot is prepared to shell out $38 MM in taxpayer funds for incompetent management of the 35W bridge, but won't pay out a dime for 1,000's of other deaths and injured persons which take place every year, due to poorly designed roads and grossly inadequate law enforcement. Most State roads designed for careful drivers to safely travel at 75-80 MPH, when traffic is very light, but are posted 55 or 65 MPH just to irritate the owners of gas guzzling vehicles, and Corvette types. They should be designed for safe and scenic travel with violating cars photographed and made to pay enough to prevent further violations -- Oh, that is the Dept of Public Safety. Too bad they aren't one operation with MnDot, responsible for safe and secure, and scenic travel. But "divide and conquer" is Minnesota's way to avoid blame and make expensive and life threatening decisions.......

[wogggieee]

Just because there is an accident on a state highway doesn't make MNDOT responsible. Seems MNDOT has become everyone's favorite target as of late. But because someone makes a poor choice behind the wheel and they pay for it with their life and it costs the life of someone else does not make it the fault of the road designer. I've been within inches of being hit head on in a rainstorm on a brand new re-designed road. Sometimes people just make mistakes. No matter how good a road is designed people will still make mistakes and people will still crash and people will still die in cars. That's just the way life is. I wont dispute that the intersection may need to be improved, but calling an accident in rainy conditions the fault of MNDOT is a bit ridiclous.

[Mo B S]

It's even more sad then the original tragedy, that some so willingly expose their ignorance.
All roads have hazards, it is a driver's response to those hazards which create dangerous situations.

To hear the cries of 'dangerous' is reminiscent of the events of 'Dodge's Corner'; a once sharp curve in a road near Afton.
For years, after someone would fail to make the corner(not an accident), there were cries to straighten the road, in spite of the fact that most of the cars running off the road were driven by locals-typically kids. often with alcohol a contributing factor.
Now, with a 'safer road', instead of kids taking the corner at 25-30mph and sliding into the ditch, the contest takes place at 50mph with far more traumatic results.

But back to the roadway of this collision-
If this section of road is truly 'dangerous' so many posters claim, with it's own power to do harm, why would any of you consider driving on it at all?

And how does one verify someone in front of them was driving 80mph? Be careful how you answer.

My condolences to the victims of this tragedy.

[yeah right]

Exactly how is MNDoT supposed to shell out money that it doesn't have? You can only divide a pie into so many pieces. Even with tax increases and other legislation that's been passed, there still isn't enough to pay for the new construction or renovation of every road, bride, over pass, etc. that needs it RIGHT NOW. Besides, that road may be slated for improvement--just not RIGHT NOW.
Kind of like how you know you can't afford a new card RIGHT NOW, but you budget for it sometime in the future.

[yeah right]

*bridge (not bride--although...lol j/k)

[Herbies]

Im not sayin... But just sayin... After riding with my father thats 78, maybe older folks should have to retake the drivers test.My Dad is a horrible driver!Whenever i go anywhere with him now i insist on driving! Again, im just sayin... Sorry to all involved in this tragedy!

[JEN]

Lacey is and was a beautiful person and friend. It was not her time to go. She will be missed by many. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.

[Bob]

MnDOT HAS urinated away money for years on projects outside the metro. Metro roads are woefully inadaquate because they havn't been improved over the years. An insider at MnDOT tells me they have sweetheart deals with contractors and get NICE bonuses for compenstation.

At a MnDOT meeting my suspicions were confirmed by looking at the vehicles driven by the MnDOT engineers, they drove BMWs and Lexus.

MnDOT is a big old cash sink and the money has come from the gas tax and the pot just got bigger.

I really enjoyed the LRT being powered by wind energy for a day at a premium of $10,000. I guess the remaining part of the year LRT is powered by COAL, polluting the c- r- a- p out of the environment.

Wasteing mony on wind energy demonstrates the cash the Met Council has to WASTE!!!!!

Anyone with 1/2 a brain sees through this junk government and would want to get rid of the Met Council ASAP..

[Bob]

P.S. the wreck in Lake Elmo was most likely caused by one car hydroplanning and sliding into the other lane. Driver error.

I was driving in that downpour and there was LOTS of standing water on the roads.

[ZenBirdist]

Bob wrote:

P.S. the wreck in Lake Elmo was most likely caused by one car hydroplanning and sliding into the other lane. Driver error.
I was driving in that downpour and there was LOTS of standing water on the roads.

Bob, if you're not employed by an accident reconstruction crew (or insurance company), you should be. Never have I seen someone so dedicated to finding out what went wrong in car crashes!

[wogggieee]

Bob wrote:

MnDOT HAS urinated away money for years on projects outside the metro. Metro roads are woefully inadequate because they haven't been improved over the years. An insider at MnDOT tells me they have sweetheart deals with contractors and get NICE bonuses for compensation.
At a MnDOT meeting my suspicions were confirmed by looking at the vehicles driven by the MnDOT engineers, they drove BMWs and Lexus.
MnDOT is a big old cash sink and the money has come from the gas tax and the pot just got bigger.
I really enjoyed the LRT being powered by wind energy for a day at a premium of $10,000. I guess the remaining part of the year LRT is powered by COAL, polluting the c- r- a- p out of the environment.
Wasteing mony on wind energy demonstrates the cash the Met Council has to WASTE!!!!!
Anyone with 1/2 a brain sees through this junk government and would want to get rid of the Met Council ASAP..

Last i checked MNDOT stands for MINNESOTA department of transportation, not metro area. They are responsible for more than just state roads in the metro.

Also, engineers are generally well paid regardless of the employer and i would say rightfully so given the skills needed for the profession. They're designing roads, bridges, etc that millions of people will use per year. They're not serving you a latte at Starbucks or selling computers at Best Buy. Generally you get what you pay for in those types of situations, and if MNDOT doesn't pay a competitive salary to engineers they will go work in the private sector and MNDOT will be in even worse shape with the people that they would find to work for less. If you're going to pay anyone well it should be the engineers. Cut back on management and other less essential position.