Friday night's tragic collision occurred along U.S. Highway 12
INDEPENDENCE, MN, (November 22, 2024) - Destin Ertel, age 32, of Montrose lost his life in a head-on collision on U.S. Highway 12 near Lake Haughey Road late Wednesday evening.
Destin Ertel died on Friday night as the result of a head-on crash along U.S. 12 near Lake Haughey Road in Hennepin County.
The accident occurred just after 10 p.m. in Independence where a vehicle crossed the centerline, leading to the fatal crash.
Ertel, identified by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver, a 35-year-old man from the area, sustained serious but stable injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Authorities from West Hennepin Public Safety indicated that distraction may have contributed to the crash, but it is currently unknown which vehicle crossed the centerline.
Police are also investigating whether impairment played a role in the collision.
The investigation remains ongoing.
HEAD-ON CRASH INVESTIGATION
The most common cause of head-on accidents is driver error. However, they also are caused by speeding, distracted driving, drunken driving, poor road design, inexperienced drivers, and confusion on the part of a driver.
According to AAA, from 2015 to 2018, there were more than 2,000 deaths from head-on collisions while driving on divided highways.
“Contributing factors to be examined include road conditions, visibility, and lighting,” said Candice Bond, a Managing Partner with Bond Legal.
“An accident reconstruction team is sometimes needed to help piece together what happened. All of these resources are necessary for helping clients receive monetary compensation for damages or a loss following a collision,” said Bond.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the investigation, the family of a victim may pursue a wrongful death claim. Family members of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a tragic or catastrophic accident such as this.
“Stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Bond.
“We understand just what families must go through, and having their rights protected is vital. A wrongful death lawyer will stay updated on the official investigation and help ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.”
If you or a family member have been involved in a situation similar to this article and would like to speak to our national legal analyst Candice Bond free of charge, please use the contact information found on this page.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).