Hecker in hospital after car accident

The auto dealer's vehicle went off the road in Plymouth, rolling over and striking a utility pole. He was alone in the vehicle.

By PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune

Last update: December 4, 2008 - 11:31 PM

Denny Hecker, one of the Twin Cities' most prominent businessmen, who has seen his auto dealership empire take a serious hit, drove off a dark west metro road and struck a utility pole near his home after leaving work Wednesday evening, police and one of his attorneys said Thursday.

On Thursday afternoon, Hecker, 56, was in North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale in fair condition, a hospital official said.

Hecker's vehicle hit the pole in Plymouth at about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday on County Road 6, west of Hwy. 101, police said.

There is no immediate word on why his vehicle left the road. He was alone at the time.

The vehicle rolled over after it left the road and went down an embankment, said Hecker spokesman Jon Austin. "He got banged up pretty good, but I think he's going to be OK," Austin said. "None of the injuries are described as life-threatening."

Hecker attorney Tim Thornton said Hecker was heading home from his headquarters near Hwy. 169 and Interstate 394, and crashed about a block from his home. Last month, Hecker closed six of his Twin Cities dealerships: Roseville, Blaine, Forest Lake, Monticello, Shakopee and Stillwater. The closings cost about 400 workers their jobs.

He also sold his Hyundai and Volkswagen dealerships in Inver Grove Heights, which remain open along with Hecker's 10 other dealerships. He also sold a California dealership last Friday.

Hecker's problems have been compounded by other recent financial and legal troubles. Chrysler Financial shut off the dealer's credit lines. He then sued Chrysler Financial, saying it damaged his business.

Since then, General Motors sued in U.S. District Court to prevent Hecker from selling Hyundai vehicles at his Southview Chevrolet dealership in Inver Grove Heights.

Hecker attributed his dealer realignments to a "perfect storm" of Wall Street financial crises, a chaotic housing market, record-low consumer confidence and the sight of the Big Three auto executives "on their knees asking for a bailout loan."

There are more than 130 new-car franchises in the Twin Cities area, said Bill Abraham, president of the Greater Minnesota Auto Dealers Association. Hecker's dozen-plus new-car dealerships represented about 10 percent of that total.

Star Tribune staff writer Dee DePass contributed to this report. Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

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