MATTHEW. CIMBERLY. MONA. DENNIS. They ranged in age from 63 to 79. And they all died this summer as a result of crashes in a construction zone on Interstate 35 just north and south of Faribault. Add to that multiple other crashes, including an August 20 six-vehicle chain reaction pile-up resulting in life-threatening injuries to two women, and this stretch of roadway has quickly become known as unsafe and deadly.
Faribault Fire Chief Dusty Dienst in mid-July publicly encouraged local residents to avoid this section of the I-35 corridor as construction continues into November and then resumes again next year. Dienst’s warning came shortly after two semis collided in a fiery crash on July 12. Dennis, a trucker from South Dakota, died of his injuries 16 days later. And Dienst’s warning came nearly a month before the latest three fatalities.
Mona from east central Minnesota died on August 11 and then Matthew and Cimberly, a couple from Iowa, two weeks later in crashes in the same area of the northbound lanes just south of Faribault.
Local residents are rightly concerned. I am, too. We are avoiding the interstate and have told our daughter and her husband, who live 35 minutes north in Lakeville, to “Stay off 35 by Faribault.”
People are quick, on social media, to speculate on the causes of these crashes. They point primarily to speed and distracted driving, without any insider knowledge. Since I don’t know the facts, I won’t assume anything. The Minnesota State Patrol, the investigating entity, can determine the causes. I will say, though, that I have witnessed my share of distracted and dangerous driving (tailgating, speeding, weaving…) on I-35 and other interstates/freeways both inside and outside the Twin Cities metro. That’s both in passenger vehicles and in semi trucks.
The fact is that four people died within a month in the construction zone on the interstate near Faribault. They leave loved ones and friends grieving their tragic, unexpected deaths.
Every time I hear sirens now and watch as the ambulance speeds by my house, I wonder if yet another crash has occurred along the interstate. Every time I hear and see an air ambulance flying near my home, heading toward the hospital, I wonder if yet another person has been airlifted off the interstate with critical, life-threatening injuries. Every time traffic builds on my street to a steady, higher volume than usual, I check local media for reports of yet another serious crash along I-35 by Faribault. The street past my house is a backroad route between Medford and Faribault, although not the official detour off 35.
And I wonder, what can be done to improve safety so no one else is injured or dies in the I-35 construction zone in Rice County? Something needs to change. And soon.
© Copyright 2023 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
this is so sad and awful, and i do hope they can change something to make it safer
My community is in agreement. Something needs to be done to make these construction zones safer.
it’s not worth human lives, and i know you agree
I just listened to a radio interview with our county sheriff. He was nearly rear-ended on I35 recently. He was stopped in traffic in the construction zone. The car behind him stopped. But the third vehicle came up fast and had to take the shoulder. Sigh.
Awful
It really is as bad as looks on the news. I’m affected by the 10 mi. I94 Oakdale to WI. With metro traffic, worse than the 8 mi. I35 stretch, but with ramps opening/closing, non-stop semi’s, speeding in normal times. I credit a long row of concrete barriers, high enough to control headlights at night. But still they speed. One does not drive it with half attention span. 2.5 yrs. will be a long time. Crisscrossing Oakdale rural has made those roads hazardous. Just as your Willow St. has become even more so since the middle school and Divine Mercy built and now this. I “think” 35 should return to somewhat better, eventually. It’s all about all of us, not law enforcement. Your sensory issues…I just can’t imagine.
Sandra, I’m sorry you’ve also had to contend with road construction. It really is unsafe to drive 35 by Faribault. Yes, we have SO MUCH traffic on Willow. Because of the schools, new housing, this being a through street, etc. Mostly, I really dislike hearing ambulance sirens all the time as the ambulance garage is located on the south end of town, just off CR 45 past the Paul Bunyan corner. Not a central location at all. Willow is the fastest route for all emergency personnel.
Sensory issues are challenging. But I’m working hard to try and manage everything.
I was almost “run over” with a stroller today, as a women reading something on her phone strolled into my lane without realizing I was there. I had to stop. No apology, just a meek smile…
The construction going on all around us is distracting enough without added distractions.
People and their phones. I’ve seen the same while out and about on the trails. What scared me the other day was the electric bikes that came speeding around the curve on the trail. I know you have one and so does my son. I had no idea they could go so fast! I appreciate cyclists who give a verbal warning, ring a bell, toot a horn, anything to alert me to their presence. I often don’t hear them otherwise.
E-Bikes have become so popular, and are so easy to use that those who would not normally ride bikes are riding e-bikes and are going too fast. My e-bike is pedal assist, meaning it won’t go if I’m not pedaling. Others have a throttle and can go as fast as it will take them without pedaling.
I was not aware of this difference in e-bikes. Thanks for that info.
So much tragedy. Thank-you for putting out a warning to keep others aware and safe.
Too much, way too much tragedy. I wish I didn’t have to write about this, but I felt compelled to do so.