THE CHIEF'S VIEW

Last week, my former pastor and good friend lost his 16-year-old daughter when she was struck and killed while riding her bike in Brookings, SD. I can’t imagine the grief his family is experiencing and will continue to experience in the coming days, weeks, and months.
I am thankful that we have not had anyone killed in Minneota in a traffic-related collision. However, we frequently have close calls. With vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians all sharing the road, it is a matter of life and death that everyone pays attention and does their part to prevent a collision.
If you are in a car, you can slow down. I like to see people driving 15-20 mph in residential zones. Drivers should actively look for bikes, kids playing, walkers, and dogs. Plan for the worst and hope for the best whenever you are behind the wheel. If you have children riding bikes, make sure they know the rules and are wearing helmets. Bike riders and walkers should wear light-colored reflective clothing and assume that drivers don’t see them.
Safety and prevention are everyone’s responsibility. Please do your part to save someone else's life.