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MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
NEWS ADVISORY
Bruce Gordon, Director of Communications
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 29, 2015
Alcohol
and Gambling
Enforcement
Bureau of
Criminal
Apprehension
Driver
and Vehicle
Services
CONTACT:
Lt. Tiffani Schweigart, 651-201-7146
Scott Wasserman, 651-201-7571
NEWS CONFERENCE: HIGHWAY 12 SAFETY COALITION CHALLENGES
PUBLIC TO GO 12 MONTHS WITHOUT A FATALITY
Going 12 for Highway 12
WHAT:
Emergency
Communication
Networks
The Highway 12 Safety Coalition will announce efforts to reduce fatalities
and serious injuries on the highway by challenging motorists to go 12
months without a fatal crash.
In the past five years (2010 – 2014), there have been 12 fatal crashes on
Highway 12 resulting in 16 deaths. The 38 mile stretch in Wright and
Hennepin Counties has the highest fatal crash rate in the metro, compared
with similar highways.
Homeland
Security and
Emergency
Management
Minnesota
State Patrol
With growing concern over road fatalities, the Highway 12 Safety
Coalition formed in 2014, combining experts and resources from both
Hennepin and Wright Counties.
Office of
Communications
Office of
Justice Programs
Following two fatal crashes in one week in December of 2014, rumble
strips were installed along portions of Highway 12. Despite the added
safety features, three more lives were lost in August 2015, including Liz
Squire’s sister, Chelsea Langhans, who died in a head-on collision.
Office of
Pipeline Safety
Office of
Traffic Safety
To improve safety on the highway that stretches through 10 communities,
the coalition is combining efforts and resources to achieve zero deaths on
highway 12.
State Fire Marshal
WHEN:
WHERE:
WHO:
Monday, November 30, 11:00 a.m.
West Hennepin Public Safety
1918 County Rd. 90
Maple Plain, MN
Chief Gary Kroells, West Hennepin Public Safety
Liz Squire, Lost sister in Highway 12 crash
Scott McBride, MnDOT Metro District Engineer
Col. Matt Langer, Chief of the Minnesota State Patrol
445 Minnesota Street, Suite 100 • Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101-5155 • dps.mn.gov • facebook.com/MnPublicSafety • @MnDPS_DPS
WHY:
Highway 12 has been a cause for concern for many years as lives have been lost and families
changed after serious or fatal crashes along the corridor. In August, two crashes claimed three lives on
Highway 12, prompting the public to ask for solutions to fatalities along the highway.
Highway 12
Wright
Hennepin
Total
(2010 – 2014)
County
County
Fatal Crashes
6 (total
6 (total deaths:
12 (total
deaths: 7)
9)
deaths: 16)
Life Changing
3
9
12
Injury Crashes
Non-Life
91
136
227
Threatening
Injury Crashes
Property Damage
192
368
560
Total Crashes
292
519
811
Note: For future requests regarding the “Going 12 for Highway 12” project, please contact Lt. Tiffani
Schweigart: 651-201-7146.
Editor’s Note: A live stream of the news conference will appear on YouTube at the following link:
https://youtu.be/II32hn73Qn4. Should our Internet connection fail, or you experience technical problems
during the live event, you can access a recorded version posted to the MnDPS YouTube channel soon after
the live stream.
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