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Last week, I looked at the head on collision that killed a Buffalo High student on Wright County Road 35. At that time there were questions about how this could happen. The road is straight there. Why would a pickup cross the center line? Investigation has now disclosed that the truck was speeding, had no headlights, was in the wrong lane, and the driver had been drinking.

The Minneapolis Tribune captured the feelings of the family in the way you see so often in these case:

"It seems like each day we find out a little bit more about this," said Adam Hoglund, Kramnic’s uncle. "It’s hard not to be incredibly angry."

……………………………

(The) family is anticipating the next day in court. "We’ll be there every step of the way to see he gets what’s coming to him," Hoglund said.

The driver has been charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in the death.

25 Comments

  1. Gravatar for j
    j

    The police reports haven't even come back as completed yet. Watch what you say - right now there is NO proof that Todd Lifto had been drinking.

  2. Gravatar for Mike Bryant
    Mike Bryant

    Yes, the .24 was from the hit and run in 05. The wrong lane, speeding and no headlights is what got the charges started in this death. The officer reported the smell of alcohol in this death. Come on back and post when the test comes back. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.

  3. Gravatar for j
    j

    It has been almost a month since the accident. It CAN'T take that long to get a B.A.C.

    You may think the victims family is going through a lot. However, so is the family of Todd Lifto.

    The September incident and the incident from 2005 should not even be brought into this situation. Past occurences are NO PROOF of what everyone is accusing Todd Lifto of.

  4. Gravatar for Mike Bryant
    Mike Bryant

    Unfortunately we are seeing many months back up with the Minnesota BCA, especially with the change due to the intoxilizer machine ruling. I have written many times that there are so many people who are involved that are affected on all sides. As I've written, it does seem that the wrong side, no lights, and speeding was a factor no matter what.

  5. Gravatar for Angie
    Angie

    First of all the accident happened 11/21 it has not been almost a month. Second JJ's Dad has now lost his ONLY child. Todd made the choice to get behind the wheel let's say alcohol didn't play a factor well I am pretty sure that accident could have been prevented had he had his headlights on been on the right side of the road and maybe doing the speedlimit. It's hard to feel sorry for a repeat offender that continues to make poor choices. Let justice be served!!!!!!!!

  6. Gravatar for David
    David

    My brother was the lead paramedic on scene...the truck driven by Lifto was doing around 70-80 as shown by the wreckage. The Truck lifted onto the car and drove over part of the driver side of Jon's car and took air and came down on its side less than 30 feet from initial impact. The front end of Jon's car was totally impacted, and the medics had to perform a rear-door extraction. In a situation like this with witnesses, assumptions are quite close to accurate. Legal satisfaction will never bring back a great kid, and we all have lost because of an extremely stupid piece of judgement by Lifto. It's something he will surely have to mill over in a very small space for several years to come.

  7. Gravatar for Mike Bryant
    Mike Bryant

    That really some information David. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.

  8. Gravatar for j
    j

    The recent Lakeville accident that killed three is just another example of why ALL of you had best shut your traps before knowing ALL of the facts first. There was no suspected alcohol in the 17 year-old driver from Dundas, yet he crossed the centerline and was driving without his headlights on, like Lifto was.

    Until ALL of you know for a fact that alcohol was a factor in the Lifto accident, KEEP YOUR TRAPS SHUT. It hasn't been proven that he had been drinking and driving. Perhaps both were cases of cell phones being used while driving. Everybody should just hang-up and concentrate on the road - even if a cell phone wasn't the cause in either accident.

    You certainly don't ever see me using a cell phone while driving. If I absolutely have to, I pull into a parking lot and make a call.

  9. Gravatar for Mike Bryant
    Mike Bryant

    No evidence of the officer smelling alcohol in that incident. In fact they have gone out of their way to say no alcohol or drugs suspected in that case. Very sad story on the front page of the Tribune this afternoon. I again thank you for taking the time to comment. Cell phone use would be just as bad as I believe you seem to be agreeing with.

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