Vehicle rolls after hitting roundabout at Highway 7 and Highway 25 near Mayer
March 13, 2010 by Ivan Raconteur
Filed under Mayer, News
CARVER COUNTY, MN – The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a rollover crash at the roundabout at the intersection of Highway 7 and Highway 25 north of Mayerat 6:52 a.m Saturday morning. According to the State Patrol, the vehicle, a 2000 Cadilac DeVille, was eastbound on Highway 7 when it hit the roundabout, vaulted over, and rolled several times. Two people sustained serious injuries and were extricated from the vehicle. Their names have not yet been released. The Carver County Sheriff’s Office also assisted at the scene.
UPDATE 3-15-10 The Minnesota State Patrol has released the names of the driver and passenger, both of whom are listed in critical condition. The driver was Travis A. Westgaard, 21, of Maple Grove. The passenger was Samantha R. Mundahl, 24, of Maple Grove.
Wow!! And yet another crazy idea of MNDOT that sets accident rates sailing. In rural america we are not accustomed to roundabouts. It is unbelievable that these traffic carnival-unamusement rides would be aloud to exist. Where is the state’s head? If the state has figures showing that roundabouts are safer in rural settings I risk saying that they will be proven deadly wrong.
Even if those who live locally get used to them, you will always have people driving through the area. They may never have seen one of these before. I’m just thankful we’ve not seen more serious accidents at the roundabouts.
The roundabout and MNDOT are not to blame here. A driver driving too fast for the conditions and under the Influence of alcohol is to blame (according to the State Patrol). As for being unaccustomed to roundabouts, that is a poor excuse. When a person is driving, they are going to be put in situations to which they are unaccustomed: A herd of deer, a stalled car blocking an intersection, a pedestrian walking across the road. Any of these situations can happen at any time. That’s one of the responsibilities that comes with driving; dealing with the unexpected. If you can’t deal with those, either because of impairment or lack of ability; you shouldn’t be on the road.
Once again, people always have to blame somebody else. There is absolutely nothing wrong with these roundabouts. There is signage in place, 1/2 mile prior to the roundabout in EACH direction. It’s not MNDOT’s problem people can’t read. On top of that, booze was indicated as well. You simply can’t fix stupid.
I have also read people have complained about lighting at these intersections. Prior to the construction, I believe there was 1, maybe 2 lights at this intersection. Now, there has got to be a dozen light poles. You can’t please em’ all.
Did you know that these ppl were drunking? Did you also know that they hit the roundabout going 70 mph?
Round abouts are not bad at all.. its just ppl dont like change!!! Get over it
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If the people who drive on County Road 10 and Hwy 25 knew what the “STOP” sign meant the roundabouts would not have been needed. So if anyone is to blame it is the people who wouldn’t stop for the signs and caused the accidents that resulted in the roundabouts. And why did County Road 44 get stop lights, they said they couldn’t put them in at 10 or 25 because people would not be expecting them. I guess 44 is closer to the cities so it is OK for them to be there.
How do you know they were drinking and driving 70mph? Where did you get your information? If this is credible information – what is the source?
I highly doubt there are “dozens” of lights at the roundabouts. I will count them tomorrow. The mound of dirt in the center is not visible in darkness and actually blends into the darkness. The lights at the intersection do not illuminate enough to show that it is any different from any other intersection. There sould be some reflective signs marking the mound that are in the line of the drivers vision.
I have driven 7 from Winsted to Mtka to/from work since 1986. I have seen more accidents and near misses since the round-abouts have been added. I see more aggressive driving at the round-abouts.
How??, I completely agree with you.
I believe the Star Tribune reported that alcohol was present in its news report. Indeed, the State Patrol’s report simply states “ALCOHOL DETECTED” under the “alcohol in system” category on the accident report. This does not automatically mean that someone is charged with DUI. Our newspaper policy is to wait until someone is actually charged with something before reporting the presence of alcohol. Therefore, they must be charged with DUI or some other related offense before we report this. This story is being worked on for Monday’s paper.
i was there and seen it all it was crazy!!!
i was going 70 miles an hour and he passed me i work at the nursing home in watertown i stopped after he hit the round about and it was a crazy thing he was drinking cause i smelled alcohol on his breath when i seen him at the gas station in hutch the casey’s asking us people there how to get to minneapolis and maple grove from hutch and i left the gas staion about 5 to 10 minutes before he passed me
Hwy 7 & Cty Rd 10 traveling East….
By the ruts in the center mound, it appears another driver went straight instead of following the round-about.
I know both of them and he was going way too fast. So no the roundabout was not to blame!