Crash victims honored and remembered at State Capitol

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Lit candles and empty pairs of shoes symbolized forever changed lives at the Minnesota State Capitol on Saturday.

Families took turns describing the moment when their lives were turned upside down in an instant.

Pam Mason talked about the day her son Austin was involved in a collision in 2021. Austin, then 19, was riding his bike with a friend.

“It left my once lively boy blind, nonverbal, paralyzed and with a traumatic brain injury,” Mason said. “I sincerely hope that no one has to experience the pain of losing a child or loved one, regardless of age, whether it be a fatal accident or a serious injury like Austin’s.”

On Saturday, the Minnesota Safety Council, Minnesota State Patrol and other groups urged motorists across the state to think twice before getting behind the wheel.

There have been 402 fatal crashes in Minnesota this year – matching the 2023 total – which equates to a fatal crash once every 19 hours.

“It starts with each of us making the decision every day to prioritize safety and encouraging others to do the same,” Lt. Col. Jeremy Geiger of the Minnesota State Patrol said Saturday.