A rush-hour attempt to slip between lanes on eastbound I-94 near Woodbury Drive turned into a violent chain-reaction crash Wednesday afternoon, leaving a 16-year-old motorcyclist with life-threatening injuries and a busy freeway briefly looking like a crash-scene drill gone wrong.
State Patrol: Motorcycle Was Lane-Splitting
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the collision happened just after 4 p.m. on eastbound I-94 at Woodbury Drive. Investigators say a Hyundai Palisade swerved left to avoid a crash, the motorcycle, which the report describes as lane-splitting, clipped the Hyundai and went down, and then a Kia Sorento and a Toyota Avalon struck the bike.
Four vehicles ended up involved in the pileup, and Woodbury police and fire crews were called in to assist at the scene. The teenage rider was transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul with critical injuries, while occupants of the involved SUVs and sedan did not require hospitalization.
Who Was Involved
Townsquare Media's KROC-AM identified the rider as 16-year-old Destin Louis Kirchoff Campbell of Pierce, Wisconsin, and reported that he was wearing a helmet when medics took him to Regions Hospital with life-threatening injuries. KROC-AM also reported that two small children were riding in the Hyundai and were not hurt, and that the other drivers walked away without injuries. The station notes that its details come from the State Patrol's crash report.
Lane Splitting And The Law
According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, lane-splitting and lane-filtering have been legal in the state since July 1, but only under specific conditions. The agency stresses that riders are allowed to pass between stopped or slow-moving traffic only when it is safe and expected, and urges both motorcyclists and drivers to prioritize predictability, awareness, and space when traffic backs up.
Investigation And Safety Notes
The State Patrol's incident log indicates that alcohol is not suspected in the crash and notes that occupants in the passenger vehicles were buckled. The report is listed as preliminary, and investigators say additional details, including any citations or determinations of fault, will be released as the investigation continues, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
