1994 — Feb 8, Fargo ND Van hits snowplow in whiteout, I-94 near Alexandria, MN — 7

— 7  Court of Appeals of MN. “In Re: Alexandria Accident of February 8, 1994.” Decided 4-1-1997.

— 6  Knight-Ridder. “Six dead in 3-way crash…” Sandusky Register, OH, 2-9-1994, p. A-5.

 

Narrative Information

 

MN Court of Appeals: “….This case arises out of a major automobile accident on February 8, 1994, involving a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) snowplow, a van, and a charter bus on Interstate 94 around 8:30 a.m. near Alexandria, Minnesota….

 

“On the same morning [as the beginning of snowplowing on I-94], 13 students and two employees of Josef’s School of  Hair Design left Fargo for Minneapolis in a van driven by Dianna Jilek. The van passed a chartered bus driven by John Carlson and a Spee-Dee delivery truck. The  van was traveling approximately 65 m.p.h. As the van proceeded in the passing lane, it came upon white-out conditions, and Jilek could see nothing.  She removed her foot from the  accelerator, saw ‘an orange flash,’ and veered the van hard to her right. The front of the van struck the rear of…[the MnDOT] snowplow, causing the van to spin in the roadway.  The van was then struck by bus. Seven passengers in the van were killed. Others in the van and bus suffered injuries….

 

“Prior to the accident, MnDOT had undertaken a study of snowplow accidents. The study indicated that a contributing factor to such accidents was the snowplow’s creation of ‘snow clouds,’ or ‘white-out’ conditions. Consequently, MnDOT developed a better lighting system which it decided to install on its newer vehicles. It started with 1988 models because ‘there was enough remaining life on those trucks to make it worthwhile.’ Only two snowplows in the Alexandria station were equipped with new lighting systems….In 1993, one of the vehicles…was sent away for installation of some additional equipment. [Notes that the snowplow involved]… did not have the new lights….” (Court of Appeals of Minnesota. “In Re: Alexandria Accident of February 8, 1994. Nos. C7-96-2178, C9-96-2179.” Decided 4-1-1997.)

 

Knight-Ridder, Feb 9: “Six young women from a Fargo, N.D., cosmetology school were killed and nine companions critically injured Tuesday when their van slammed into a snowplow on a Minnesota interstate highway, then was struck by a charter bus. Forty-six bus passengers also were injured. Chartered by Better Entertainment of Brooklyn Center, the bus was on an overnight tour of three Minnesota casinos.

 

“A strong north wind was whipping snow across Interstate 94, creating whiteout conditions, when the accident occurred at 8:15 a.m., 11 miles west of Alexandria, Minn., three miles west of the Osakis exit.

 

“Three van passengers were dead at the scene. Those three and three women who died later at Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria were from Josef’s School of Hair Design, as were the critically injured. In all, there were 13 students, an instructor and an administrative aide aboard the van, which was enroute to Rocco Altobelli salons in Burnsville, Minn., for hairstyling demonstrations….

 

“The impact mangled the van and trapped most of the occupants inside, according to Dr. Mark Odland of Alexandria, who happened the crash while enroute to work at the Osakis Medical Clinic….” (Knight-Ridder. “Six dead in 3-way crash…” Sandusky Register, OH, 2-9-1994, A5.)

 

Sources

 

Court of Appeals of Minnesota. “In Re: Alexandria Accident of February 8, 1994. Nos. C7-96-2178, C9-96-2179.” Decided 4-1-1997. Accessed 3-6-2016 at: http://caselaw.findlaw.com/mn-court-of-appeals/1113089.html

 

Knight-Ridder Newspapers. “Six dead in 3-way crash. School van, snowplow, bus collide in whiteout.” Sandusky Register, OH, 2-9-1994, p. A-5. Accessed 3-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=228988725&sterm