Traffic deaths in Minneapolis fell for the third straight year in 2023, but they’re still well above pre-pandemic levels, according to newly released city data.

The number of crashes has fallen significantly, though, as have the numbers of pedestrians and cyclists struck, so what’s the reason for the increased deaths?

Speeding, officials suspect.

By the numbers

In 2023, 21 people died in crashes on Minneapolis streets, including pedestrians, cyclists, bikers and drivers. That figure doesn’t include collisions on freeways or those involving intentional crashes or medical emergencies.

In 2022, there were 22 fatalities and 23 in 2021. But those totals were notably higher than the three years before the COVID-19 pandemic, when annual traffic fatality totals ranged from nine to 14.

The data was presented to a City Council committee Thursday as an annual update to Minneapolis’ Vision Zero program. The initiative has sought to reduce traffic deaths by tracking data and installing hundreds of curbs, humps, plastic barriers and other methods to separate vehicles from less-protected travelers and force vehicles to slow down, especially in areas known to have frequent, serious crashes.

More than numbers

Reading the names of all 23 people killed last year, Vision Zero program coordinator Ethan Fawley choked up.

“These are totally unacceptable, and we have to do better as a city,” he said.

Among them were lives lost in two tragedies on Lake Street, which Fawley said was the “highest-injury street in the state.”

In June, five young women who had just left Karmel Mall after having henna applied for a friend’s wedding were killed when a driver ran a red light at 95 mph and struck their car. Sabiriin Ali, 17; Sahra Gesaade, 20; Salma Abdikadir, 20; Sagal Hersi, 19; and Siham Adam, 19, were killed. Derrick John Thompson, then 27, was charged with 10 counts of criminal vehicular homicide. His case is pending.

In October, Annalee Wright was killed while crossing the street with her two children, ages 14 and 6. She pushed them out of the way of a car driven by a 23-year-old man with a learner’s permit, police said. The children survived. The next day, Wright received her Ojibwe spirit name, Biiwaabik Ikwe, or Iron Woman.

Caused by speeding?

Cautioning that every crash is unique, Hawley said it’s difficult to say for certain what’s behind the higher level of deaths since the pandemic. But speeding seems like a prime suspect — especially because the total number of crashes has fallen notably.

When 2023 is compared with the 2016-2019 average, the number of total collisions has fallen 48%, and the number of crashes involving bicycles and pedestrians is down 35%. Yet, the number of severe crashes has risen 13% during that same period.

In the past three years, the percentage of fatal crashes that “clearly involved speeding” has remained above 50%, while the highest that rate reached before 2020 was 43%.

The data tracks with statewide and national trends that showed roads in Minnesota and the rest of the U.S. became more deadly during the pandemic, as motorists drove faster and were thought to have become more reckless. Fatality rates continue to fall, but transportation officials have been frustrated that they remain above pre-pandemic levels.

When City Council members asked Hawley if new traffic obstructions — especially plastic posts called “bollards” that are seen by many as unsightly — are working, he said the city needs more time to generate several years of data to be able to answer that.

Nonetheless, his office supports using them because anecdotally they appear to help, and they’re far less expensive than more permanent changes to streets.

MINNEAPOLIS — When it comes to warm days like Friday, there may be no two bigger fans than Anne Harvey’s pups Lou and Leland.

The three played fetch at Lake Harriet, but not before a little tug of war over the stick.

“It’s their favorite thing. They just love getting in the lake as much as they can,” said Harvey.

Harvey said she will take this weather, over the summers in her former home.

“We were living in Texas for four years and I can’t do 115-degree summers anymore, so I’m pretty happy with anything that’s not that,’ said Harvey.

MORE NEWS: 17-year-old boy arrested after standoff in north Minneapolis

While thermometers may read low 80s in cities like Minneapolis, water temperatures still have a little catching up to do.

“Cold at first,” said St. Paul native Jonah Brumbach.

 “It feels nice once you get used to it,” said Mia Brisbin, also from St. Paul.

Al and Carley Watts are enjoying the weather with their 2-year-old grandson, Alec.

“We got to spend the day with him and promised him we’d go to the park and have some popcorn,” said Al Watts.

The Twin Cities’ above-average temperatures Friday continue a spring trend. April was about two degrees above average, while May, so far, has been doubled at four degrees above average.

Minnesotans know, when we have days like this, you must take advantage.    

“Get out and enjoy it as much as you can,” said Harvey.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Minneapolis Police Department will not reopen a murder case they thought was solved two decades ago.

Randy Sherer was gunned down inside his family’s flower shop in May 2004. 

Marvin Haynes was convicted in the case, but Haynes was exonerated late last year because of unconstitutional police work. 

Immediately following the exoneration, MPD said it would review the case for possible next steps – looking at the availability of potential witnesses and the status of any evidence.

But in a statement to FOX 9 this week, the department now says the case will remain closed “pending any new information or leads.”

“They need to find the person that did that,” Ryan Donley, Sherer’s great nephew told FOX 9’s Paul Blume. “If there is no justice for Randy, then obviously, now it is looking like there was no justice for Marvin, you know? So, it is sad for both families, to be honest.”

Donley spoke to Blume at his metro-area home while flipping through a weathered scrapbook holding some of his most cherished memories from his family’s, long-time, Minneapolis business, Jerry’s Flower Shop.

“He is one of the nicest guys on the northside from what I hear from everybody,” Donley said while pointing at photos of his great uncle. “And that is when he was shot, walking up to the front, trying to protect his sister at the time.”

Sadly for Donley and the rest of his family, Jerry’s Flower Shop closed after Sherer was shot to death while working there with his sister on Sunday morning, May 16, 2004.

“I just recall getting a phone call from my mom,” remembered Donley. “Everybody was crying and tears. And they said that my uncle got shot.”

Like nearly everyone in his family, Donley worked at Jerry’s.

Donley said, “My aunt, my uncles, all the nephews and cousins, we all worked there. We all sold flowers on the corner of north Minneapolis every holiday.”

Donley, who was in his late teens at the time of the murder, was a pallbearer at Sherer’s funeral. He has fond memories of his great uncle.

“Every time I go up to visit, you know, he would give me a dollar out of his pocket, give me change out of his pocket. He was always nice to me,” said Donley.

Two decades later, Donley watched Haynes, the convicted gunman, walk out of prison in December after Haynes was exonerated by the courts, his life-sentence vacated.

“It brings back memories, and frustrations, and anger,” admitted Donley.

Haynes was just 16 years old when he was arrested. Investigators never had any DNA evidence, fingerprints, surveillance images or murder weapon connecting Haynes to the deadly shooting. 

“Everybody wanted justice,” recalled Donley. “At the time, I thought it was a set case, you know, and then turned out like it is not a set case all this time later.

Donley was disappointed to hear this week MPD will not re-open the case following an investigative review. 

He told Blume that he remains hopeful someone out there might talk or know something to provide a definitive answer as to what happened in his family’s flower shop 20 years ago.