Minnesota sheriff’s deputy makes U-turn, surprising motorcyclist who crashes into him, patrol says

A central Minnesota sheriff’s deputy made a U-turn on a road, and a motorcyclist who was following him crashed into the deputy’s SUV, officials said.

The collision occurred about 7:15 p.m. Thursday south of Brainerd on County Road 45, the State Patrol said.

The motorcyclist, 18-year-old Dakota William Beehner of Brainerd, was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life threatening. The patrol said he was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

The deputy, Aidan James Bartels, 25, of Baxter, Minn., was not hurt, the patrol said.

Bartels was heading south in a Sheriff’s Office SUV “and made a U-turn near Cook Road,” a statement from the patrol read. “[The] motorcycle was also southbound and T-boned the [SUV] while it was making the U-turn.”

Sheriff’s Lt. Craig Katzenberger said Friday that “at this time, Deputy Bartels is not on any type of leave and will continue his normal duties.”

The Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook an account of the crash and included a photo showing modest damage to the squad and the motorcycle on its side in the middle of the two-lane road.

The posting ignited a flurry of comments debating the responsibility of drivers to see motorcyclists and what responsibilities riders have to stay safe.

There have been four motorcycle fatalities in Minnesota so far this year, according to the State Patrol. Looking at the past six years, there were five total motorcycle fatalities during the same time period.

“About half of all motorcycle crashes involve a collision with another vehicle,” said patrol Lt. Mike Lee. “In many crashes, the driver never saw the motorcyclist, or didn’t see the rider until it was too late.”

Lee, noting that warmer weather means more motorcycles on the roads, urged drivers to look twice for motorcyclists and give them at least 3 seconds of following distance during the day and 4 to 5 seconds at night or during bad driving conditions.

As for what motorcyclists can do when in traffic, Lee urged them to “remember, other drivers have a harder time seeing you [and] assume you are invisible to them.”

The lieutenant also encouraged motorcyclists to wear brightly colored gear, watch for distracted drivers, signal lane changes well in advance and “pass other drivers quickly so you don’t remain in their blind spots.”