  |
|
| Icy roads factor in FL area accidents |
|
|
| Wednesday, 07 January 2009 | |
|
Cliff Buchan News Editor Ice covered roads in the Forest Lake area are being blamed for a number of vehicle crashes, according to city police department reports. Most of the crashes resulted in minor property damage and no serious injuries, but authorities did get a scare Monday when a car collided with an ISD 831 school bus west of I-35 on a city street. According to the Forest Lake Police Department, a car traveling south on Everton Avenue and attempting to negotiate a curve to go west on 220th St. N. crashed with a school bus which was east bound on 220th Street and approaching the turn on Everton Ave. There were no injuries, police said. The crash was reported at 9:04 a.m. The two vehicles were traveling on city streets west of I-35 and south of W. Broadway Ave. The school bus carried two students, a student aide and the bus driver, 57-year-old Ginger Olson of Wyoming. The car, a 2003 Ford Focus, was driven by Adam Pimentel, 21, of Shoreview. The car received front-end and passenger side damage, police said. There was little if any damage to the bus. A second school bus was dispatched to the scene to transport the students to school. Police said the car was unable to make the turn in the road because of the slippery conditions and slid into the path of the bus. Police issued no citations to any of the parties. City maintenance department crews were dispatched to slippery intersections throughout the city, including the accident scene, to put down salt and sand to improve driving conditions, police said. At 6:24 a.m. on Monday, another incident was reported at the intersection when a vehicle could not make the curve and slid off the road, police said. A car traveling south on Everton was forced to take the ditch to avoid hitting a second car when it could not make the curve, police said. No injuries were reported. There were numerous vehicle incidents in the area, some that were driving-condition related, police said. At 4:13 p.m. Monday, police were called to assist at a two-vehicle crash on southbound US-61 at the signal that connects with westbound TH-97. One vehicle was in the ditch and the second was blocking southbound traffic. Forest Lake officers assisted the Minnesota State Patrol with traffic control and providing medical care to two injuries parties who were treated by North Ambulance. Forest Lake Fire and Rescue was also called to assist at the scene which resulted in traffic being routed around the crash. Four other accidents were reported Monday and in one, alcohol was involved, police said. At 8:30 p.m., police were called to North Shore Trail N. and Heath Avenue where a car with two occupants had left the road and ended up in the ditch. Police arrested a 21-year-old Forest Lake man on a charge of fourth-degree driving while intoxicated and ticketed a 17-year-old female from Forest Lake for minor consumption of alcohol. At 3:13 p.m. Monday, police were called to the Broadway-I-35 intersection where three vehicles were involved in a minor fender-bender. The accident was on the freeway ramp coming from northbound I-35. No injuries were reported. At 8:42 a.m., police were called to W. Broadway Avenue just east of the Anoka County line where a vehicle driven by a 17-year-old Wyoming female slid off the road. The teen was eastbound on Broadway when the vehicle left the road and knocked down a curve sign. The road was covered with snow and ice and in poor driving condition, police said. Wife assaulted A Forest Lake man was arrested on January 2 after allegedly assaulting his wife and interfering with a police officer. Police were called to 1056 SW Apartment Lane at 11:48 p.m. for a domestic assault report. Jacob Lee Deutsch, 23, was arrested on probable cause charges of third-degree assault, third-degree assault involving a victim under age 4 and obstruction of legal process. According to police reports, Deutsch had consumed a liter of Capt. Morgan and was arguing with his wife who was holding their eight-month-old son. Police reports said the wife, age 21, had been punched in the eye and may have suffered a broken rib. She and the baby were taken to Fairview Lakes Medical Center n Wyoming. Two other children were in a bedroom at the time of the incident. When police arrived on the scene, the suspect was allegedly fighting with his father, reports said. Deutsch also refused to cooperate with officers, according to police reports. Bear in FL Bears should be in a deep sleep at this time of the year, but a black bear spotted in Forest Lake on Sunday afternoon does not know the routine. At 2:42 p.m., police were called to Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 335 SW 12th St. where a bear was spotted in the parking lot near a wooded area. When police arrived at the restaurant, the bear could not be located. Tax conviction Charges brought against a Scandia man by the Minnesota Department of Revenue have resulted in a conviction. Donald Edward Melander, 39, has been found guilty of failing to report taxes and to file tax returns and for failure to pay or collect. Melander was handed two $500 fines and placed on probation for two years, with $5000 in fines stayed. He was also sentenced to 365 days in jail with 335 days suspended for two years, with jail time on the two sentences to be served concurrently via electronic home monitoring. An audit with the revenue department will determine the amount of restitution that Melander must pay. Social Bookmarking ...       |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|