Two killed, one injured in wrong-way crash on I-494 are identified

Charitie was a good friend of mine i actually texted her earlier that night. this is sad times for family and friends of hers we all miss her. IF ANYONE HAS PICTURES OF HER PLEASE CONTACT ME IM MAKING A COLLAGE FOR HER FAMILY Donmonicw2001@YAHOO.COM

Very sad.

what happened?

I drove past the scene this morning while heading home, the tow trucks were removing the vehicles. 494 was shut down, so I had to get off just prior to the bridge, then head back westbound to 52. While entering 494W, from Hardman, I saw the semi, van, and car. As soon as I saw the car, I could tell it was a fatal.

Since at least one of the girls was from the east Metro, I can only guess that they were intoxicated, not simply confused as to where they were.

Tragic.

This is a tragic loss, but if booze was involved, they shouldnt have gotten into the car.

I feel for the familys that lost loved ones.

This should be a lesson to the rest of us who think it is ok to drink and drive, we not only can hurt ourselves, but other.

To the families my thoughts and prayers are with you.

I had to pass by this horrible sceen this morning, I was visiting family and thought I would wait until after the bar rush before I leave, so we waited. I could have been the one these girls hit, I could have died, my husband could have died, if we would have left when I really wanted to leave, there would have been a very good chance it would have been us, but something made me wait.

DONT DRINK AND DRIVE and if ALCOHOL WAS NOT A FACTOR, THEN WHAT WERE THEY ON, IF YOU WERE SOBER YOU WOULD KNOW YOU WERE GOING THE WRONG WAY

none wrote:

SEATBELTS!!??? You're joking, right?

Just like they always have to toss in the helmet thing when a motorcyclist dies.

I agree that these exits are poorly marked and confusing.

sad

I am always puzzled by the mean spiritedness of some of the comments on sites like this. For whatever reason, these deaths occurred, and two families are grieving.
This construction has gone on so long; hasn't eveyone heard of at least one accident along this road? A friend of mine was involved in an awful five-car crash on this part of 494 three years ago, just on the way to work in the morning. I think the earlier writers who tied this accident to the added complications of road construction had a point.
And everybody should remember to be kind. You can raise a question about circumstances without being uncivil.

Blame the cuts by Pawlenty and his Lt Gov/Tran Com/Goose stepper. They cut the money to do it right, they took away the money to spend on proper markings and lighting. Ask MNOT

Guys! Please respect the families. If you would not say it to their face then don't say it on e-mail. And if you would say such nasty things to their face then maybe you should just go to hell.

I am sorry for both of the families and their loss. But the exit ramp they went up is clearly marked with do not enter signs.

Yes it is clearly marked. I agree. I hope this makes just one of those friends think that their full attention to driving should be used while on the road. I lost my car that would have been paid off in June and do you think the guy that hit me cares?? It has put me into financial turmoil and another person in my car was injured too. My prediction is that we will see deaths every day as the young generation make these deliberate and poor choices while driving whether it is texting, cell phones, add drinking and the odds get worse. Wasn't it a 16 year old that introduced a bill about banning cell phones while driving?, he knows what is going on out there among the young and I am sure that will be laughed at but in the coming years but the truth is the roads get scarier every day because of it. Hope the car the girls were driving was insured so the victims that are alive can collect something for their pain and suffering.

Mary Allen wrote:

Yes it is clearly marked. I agree. I hope this makes just one of those friends think that their full attention to driving should be used while on the road. I lost my car that would have been paid off in June and do you think the guy that hit me cares?? It has put me into financial turmoil and another person in my car was injured too. My prediction is that we will see deaths every day as the young generation make these deliberate and poor choices while driving whether it is texting, cell phones, add drinking and the odds get worse. Wasn't it a 16 year old that introduced a bill about banning cell phones while driving?, he knows what is going on out there among the young and I am sure that will be laughed at but in the coming years but the truth is the roads get scarier every day because of it. Hope the car the girls were driving was insured so the victims that are alive can collect something for their pain and suffering.

So what age should people start driving?!? I see middle-aged and older people doing the same thing and driving the same way or worse!

Maybe if people slowed down in construction zones, they'd have an easier time figuring out which way to go.

Thanks to Karen for her response. People can be so cruel. Think for one moment if your family member or dear friend died and people wrote rude and hurtful comments. How angry would you be?
May God forgive you and pray that you learn the meaning of compassion.

god needed another angel

no alcohol you pieces of s?><>? a tired youhg mother lost her life. it was a tragic ACCIDENT

TtB wrote:

<quoted text>
So what age should people start driving?!? I see middle-aged and older people doing the same thing and driving the same way or worse!
Maybe if people slowed down in construction zones, they'd have an easier time figuring out which way to go.

it was two oclock in the morning i don't care how well posted it was unless there were flood lights on the sign it obviously was'nt posted well enough

Eastsider wrote:

Blame the cuts by Pawlenty and his Lt Gov/Tran Com/Goose stepper. They cut the money to do it right, they took away the money to spend on proper markings and lighting. Ask MNOT

To the democrats, it's always about money. Pick a problem and their view is there's not enough taxpayer money being thrown at it. But, I guess when the only tool you have is a hammer (taxpayer money) all your problems look like nails. The government schools they attended never taught them to actually analyze and solve problems, I guess.

This is a horribly sad incident...I don't think anyone will argue that. Let's wait and see what the outcome of everything is otherwise all we are doing is speculating.

If it was a tragic wrong way accident, then so be it. If alcohol was involved, then it is what it is.

But rather than try to defend assumptions, let's see what the truth is. And be willing to accept the outcome and live with it.