A boulder weighing about 800 pounds fell off of the back of a Czeck services commercial truck and hit a car going in the opposite direction. Tragically, a mother and her adult daughter were killed in the crash. Karen J. Christiansen and Jena H. Christiansen were from Shoreview, Minnesota.
The official cause of death for both of the women was blunt force head trauma due to the crash, according to the Hennepin Medical Examiner.
The accident happened Monday, July 9, 2018, in Rosemount. A 2002 Toyota Avalon was traveling north on Rich Valley Boulevard when the boulder fell off the commercial truck and onto the car. According to the police, the boulder, which was about 3 foot by 3 foot, was airborne before it hit the vehicle.
The driver of the truck, Joe P. Czeck, did not stop. Rosemount police found the driver in Inver Grove Heights. He was arrested, and charges are pending. We expect to hear more tomorrow.
A mother and daughter were killed when this boulder fell off a truck Monday in Rosemount. The boulder weights around 800 pounds. It went completely through the car. Police have ID the truck— but are now looking for the driver. @KSTP pic.twitter.com/D0AGk7PEhr
— Eric Chaloux (@EChalouxKSTP) July 11, 2018
Under Minnesota law, a driver involved in a traffic accident must stop and remain at the scene. If the driver does not do that, the driver may face criminal charges. In addition, when someone is killed in the hit-and-run accident, the family may have the right to sue the driver and, in the case of a commercial truck, the owner of the truck and the owner of the cargo. In this case there was a load of rocks that was not secure. The investigation needs to determine who was responsible for securing the load, and why it was not properly secured.
“We have handled two similar cases where something fell off of a truck and caused a fatality. More needs to be done to make sure loads are secure.”Attorney Eric Hageman
Contact Attorney Eric Hageman for Help. Get Answers and Justice.
