Distracted Driving and Speeding Main Causes for Crashes

Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze says speeding, distracted driving and driving under the influence are still the main causes for injury and fatal crashes. He reminds everyone to drive with caution as law enforcement personnel want to see people get to their destinations safely.

Sheriff Cruze says the crash numbers are pretty consistent statewide from the previous year, but there has been a trend since the COVID pandemic of motorists increasing their speed, and now there are more instances of people driving under the influence of marijuana. He says if you go out and have a good time, make sure you have a designated driver or spend the night where you have been partying; and if someone notices that another person is impaired, don’t let them drive.

Sheriff Cruze says motorcycle safety is always a concern so make sure to look out for motorcycles and motorcyclists should drive defensively. He says law enforcement has responded to numerous fireworks complaints with the recent 4th of July celebration and it will likely be an issue again this weekend with Litchfield’s Watercade celebration, and people shooting off illegal fireworks can be looking at citations or having their fireworks confiscated.

Sheriff Cruze says if you want to have a big, private fireworks show, you can pool your resources with friends, get a permit, and hire a licensed pyrotechnic person. He says National Night Out will be coming up on August 4th so the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office will participate in events in Litchfield, Dassel, Watkins, Grove City and Cosmos and there will be more details available about that at the Sheriff’s booth at the up-coming Meeker County Fair.