A Saturday night drive on Highway 10 turned suddenly violent when a Toyota Corolla hit a bear just before 10 p.m. near Staples in Todd County, leaving two people hurt and the car badly damaged.
The Minnesota State Patrol identified the driver as 36-year-old Mary Jo Roggenkamp of Deer Creek and the passenger as 34-year-old Corey Roggenkamp. Both were taken to Staples Hospital with injuries that authorities described as non-life-threatening. The car was headed west on Highway 10 when it struck the bear, according to details first shared by WJON, which also noted that troopers responded to investigate the crash.
How common are wildlife strikes?
A federal review by the Federal Highway Administration estimates there are between 1 and 2 million wildlife-vehicle collisions in the U.S. each year and finds that most of those crashes occur on rural two-lane roads during low-light hours. The FHWA report also highlights seasonal spikes in the fall and spring, when animals are on the move, and drivers have less time to react.
How drivers can reduce the risk
Safety experts urge drivers to ease off the gas on rural highways, keep scanning the shoulders, and use high beams when it is safe to do so in order to extend sight lines. If a collision is unavoidable, guidance from insurers such as State Farm stresses staying in control of the vehicle and braking firmly instead of swerving, which can trigger more serious crashes. Drivers are also reminded to watch for follow-up traffic from the animal kingdom, since where there is one animal, others often trail closely behind.
What's being done locally
Minnesota researchers and MnDOT are working to pinpoint collision hot spots and test targeted fixes, including fencing and wildlife-friendly underpasses, in an effort to cut down on crashes and human injuries, according to Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Until those projects spread more widely, officials say that extra vigilance on corridors like Highway 10 remains the fastest and often only line of defense for both drivers and wildlife.
