MEDINA, Hennepin County, Minn., Oct. 5, 2026 — One man died after a two-vehicle crash on westbound Highway 55 at County Road 116 on Saturday morning, October 3. Two other people suffered injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The State Patrol said a Ford F-150 was turning left from southbound County Road 116 onto eastbound Highway 55 when it collided with a Mercedes-Benz sedan traveling westbound just west of the intersection. The road surface was reported dry at the time of the crash.
The driver of the F-150, identified by the State Patrol as 68-year-old George Michael Ehman of Cape Coral, Fla., died in the crash. The Mercedes driver, a 75-year-old Plymouth, Minn. man, and a 29-year-old passenger from Plymouth were both taken to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
Medina, Plymouth, and Corcoran police departments responded along with the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, Medina Fire, and North Memorial paramedics. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office was also involved, the report said. The State Patrol listed the information on the crash as believed complete as of Saturday afternoon.
Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the person who died.
When Left-Turn Crashes at Rural Highway Intersections Happen
Left-turn crashes like this one tend to cluster at certain times of day rather than spreading evenly across the clock. Midday and early afternoon hours usually see a mix of commercial traffic, errand-running drivers, and higher speeds on rural highways, all converging at intersections where turning vehicles have to judge gaps in fast-moving oncoming traffic. A misjudged gap or a vehicle hidden by sun glare can turn a routine turn into a serious collision.
Weekend mornings and early afternoons bring their own mix of risk. Traffic volumes shift away from the steady rhythm of a weekday commute, and drivers unfamiliar with a stretch of highway, including out-of-town travelers, may misjudge the speed of oncoming vehicles or the width of an intersection. Rural highways like Highway 55 usually carry a posted speed well above urban limits, which shortens the time a turning driver has to react if a gap closes faster than expected.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 2,442,581 people were injured in traffic crashes in 2023. Left-turn crashes are a recurring share of intersection collisions nationwide, and they remain common at intersections without dedicated turn signals, where drivers must rely on judgment alone to time a turn across oncoming lanes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does speed affect the severity of a crash like this? Higher speeds reduce the time a driver has to react and increase the force of impact. Even a modest increase in speed can turn a survivable collision into a fatal one, particularly at intersections where a turning vehicle crosses the path of oncoming traffic.
Why is distracted driving especially risky at intersections? A few seconds of lost attention, whether from a phone, a passenger, or a dashboard display, can mean missing a gap in traffic or failing to see an oncoming vehicle in time to stop or adjust a turn.
What should someone do immediately after a car accident? Call 911, check for injuries, and stay at the scene if it's safe to do so. Move vehicles out of traffic only if possible without risk, and wait for law enforcement to arrive and document the crash.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Medina, Minnesota
Anyone involved in a crash in Medina should seek a medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor at first. Some injuries, including concussions or internal injuries, don't show symptoms right away. Keep records of any treatment, and request a copy of the official crash report from the Minnesota State Patrol once it's available. If you witnessed a crash or have information that could help investigators, contact the State Patrol's West Metro office directly.
