Distracted driver hits Edina squad while trying to find her phone

The driver admitted she was tired and was reaching to grab her phone with the collision occurred just before 3 a.m. Wednesday.

June 21, 2018 at 11:06PM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
(Harlow, Tim/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Distracted and drowsy while driving turned out to be a bad combination for a woman from Albert Lea, Minn. who crashed into the back of an Edina squad car early Wednesday.

The woman said she was tired and was trying to grab her phone that she had dropped on the floor when she struck the squad just before 3 a.m. while she headed north on Hwy. 169 near Bren Road, said Lt. Tiffani Nielson of the State Patrol.

Officer Nicholas Pedersen was stopped on the right shoulder and had his headlights and taillights on when he was hit.

Neither the Pedersen or the 38-year-old driver were seriously hurt, but both were taken to Fairview Southdale Hospital for evaluation, said city spokeswoman Kaylin Eidsness.

The woman, who was driving a 2017 Dodge Journey, was cited for careless driving.

Both vehicles sustained heavy damage,

The incident prompted Edina Police in a tweet to remind motorists that "This is distracted driving. Your phone is not this important"

about the writer

about the writer

Tim Harlow

Reporter

Tim Harlow covers traffic and transportation issues in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, and likes to get out of the office, even during rush hour. He also covers the suburbs in northern Hennepin and all of Anoka counties, plus breaking news and weather.

See Moreicon