Posted: 6/19/02

Off-duty firefighters save woman
after crash on I-35 near Stacy

A Burnsville woman is lucky to be alive this week, thanks to two off-duty firefighters who happened by at the right time Friday night.

Judith M. Fuerstenau, 60, was unresponsive and not breathing when the two firefighters came upon an accident scene at 7:05 p.m., three-quarters of a mile south of Stacy on I-35. Fuerstenau was southbound when she lost control of her car, crossed over the median and collided with a northbound pickup.

Minnesota State Patrol Sgt. Patrick McArdle said the womanís luck came in form of Dan Beeson, a full-time firefighter from Woodbury, and Dan Plank, a volunteer firefighter from Maplewood. The friends were traveling north on I-35 when they came on the accident.

McArdle said the two men both had extensive first aid training and equipment in their vehicle. After working on Fuerstenau for 10 minutes, they were able to bring her back, he said.

ìSimple CPR wouldnít have done it,î McArdle said.

The woman was taken by North Air to North Memorial Hospital where she was in critical condition Monday. McArdle said she was being treated for a broken neck, broken arm and head injuries.

The collision also involved two people from St. Paul, Ronald S. Bloch, 55, the driver of the pickup, a 1998 Ford Ranger, and his wife, Teri, 46. Both were airlifted to Regions Hospital, St. Paul, by Life Link III.

According to police reports, Fuerstenau was traveling south when she lost control on the left lane shoulder. Police said the driver over corrected twice in attempts to gain control. The womanís 2000 Saturn went airborne as it left the southbound lane and collided with the northbound Ford Ranger.

Northbound I-35 was limited to one lane for 3‡ hours. Southbound I-35 remained open.

Fugitive in custody

A fugitive who escaped from Washington County custody while being transported to the county jail in Stillwater is back in custody.

Shane Allen Sperr, 19, of Scandia, escaped from the rear seat of the transport vehicle at 5:47 p.m. on June 10 as he was being transported to Stillwater from the Chisago County Jail in Center City. The escape took place at the intersection of TH-97 and Manning Trail N. in New Scandia Township. He was being transported on a violation of conditional release detention order.

By Wednesday, June 13, Sperr surrendered and was back in custody. Sperr was incorrectly identified in the June 13 issue.

Sperr has now been charged with escape from custody in Washington County District Court in Stillwater.

Other reports

In other Forest Lake Police Department reports, it was a bad week for drivers who were driving drunk, said Sgt. Ron Hanegraaf.

In a three-day period from June 13-15, city officers arrested nine drivers for driving while intoxicated, he said. Three arrests were made on June 15, five on June 14 and one on June 13, he said.

In addition, police here made two arrests on June 15 for underage consumption of alcohol. On June 13, police took a 44-year-old woman to detox after she was found intoxicated at 12:39 a.m. near an apartment building on SW 12th Street.

In other police news, three people face fifth degree assault charges and one person will be charged with obstructing legal process after police were called to a report of a fight at 2 a.m., Sunday, June 16 at 219 SW 4th Ave.

Police were greeted by a bachelor and bachelorette party that met at the 4th Avenue address. Two parties to the incident required medical treatment. One woman was injured when a police officer who was attempting to subdue the subject fell on top of her.

Police are also investigating a pair of thefts.

On June 17, a home owner from the 21000 block of Fenway Ct. N. on Clear Lake reported the theft of a $750 pontoon boat cover and fishing gear valued at $25. The items were taken sometime between June 9-16, police said.

A Stillwater man on June 13 reported the theft of $2500 in fishing equipment as he visited Forest Lake while on a trip north to fish.

Thomas Thon had stopped for gas at 3:45 p.m. at Holiday, 1543 S. Lake St. When he returned to his vehicle, he found the fishing gear and tackle box had been taken from his boat, according to police reports.

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