No charges for Rochester snowplow driver who fatally hit woman

The Minnesota State Patrol concluded its investigation into the accident, Rochester officials said Thursday.

June 9, 2023 at 2:57AM
Roads were blocked after 69-year-old Linda Rud was struck and killed by a Rochester city snowplow on Pinewood Road SE in February. (Trey Mewes, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

ROCHESTER — No charges will be filed against the Rochester snowplow driver who fatally hit a 69-year-old woman earlier this year.

Rochester officials said Thursday the Minnesota State Patrol has concluded its investigation into the Feb. 24 accident. The report stated Olmsted County declined to file charges against city employee Jordan Dohrmann.

"The city of Rochester continues to convey its deepest sympathies to the decedent's loved ones," City spokesperson Jenna Bowman said in a statement.

Dohrmann struck Linda Rud while reversing the plow around 9 a.m. on Pinewood Road SE, just a few blocks east of Pinewood Elementary School. Rochester police found Rud dead at the scene. Dohrmann was placed on administrative leave.

At the time, State Patrol Sgt. Troy Christianson said Rud was out walking when the accident occurred.

Snowplow accidents involving pedestrians are rare in southeast Minnesota. For Christianson, the February incident was the first he had been part of in 22 years.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated who decided to not press charges.
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about the writer

Trey Mewes

Rochester reporter

Trey Mewes is a reporter based in Rochester for the Star Tribune. Sign up to receive the Rochester Now newsletter.

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