Credit: Lowell Anderson, Alexandria Echo Press
Credit: Lowell Anderson, Alexandria Echo Press
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - When you ask about the four young women killed in Monday's crash, you'll hear words like smart, talented, and loving to describe them.
"They were so welcoming. You never saw them upset," said friend Gabby Moter.
Eighteen-year old Lauren Peterson of Prior Lake was driving on I-94 near Alexandria when officials say she lost control of her car, crossed the median, and was broadsided by an SUV.
She died, along with her passengers 18-year olds Megan Sample of Rogers and Danielle Renninger of Excelsior, as well as 19-year old Jordan Playle of Ostego.
They were all freshmen at North Dakota State University on their way back to school.
"The roads were horrible. They were absolutely horrible. That's when I came upon the accident," said Pat Elleraas.
By phone from North Dakota, Elleraas told KARE 11 moments earlier he saw the teens, along with a number of other people pass him on the left.
He says he was driving about 45 miles an hour on the snow-covered highway. He found out the women died later that night.
"My sister-in-law text messaged me back and said yes, they were four college girls and NDSU students. I just went, oh man," he recalled.
Although investigators don't know yet what caused the accident, there were 200 crashes Monday in Minnesota. They say most were due to people driving too fast for the conditions.
"You need to slow down. Life is precious. It's better to get there than not get there at all," said State Patrol Sgt. Jesse Grabow.
Family, friends, and former teachers were devastated Tuesday knowing these four women were good kids with great futures ahead of them.
Renninger graduated from Minnetonka High School, Sample and Playle from Rogers, and Peterson from Prior Lake.
"(They) brightened any room that they were in," said friend Morgan Lubben.
Lubben, from Buffalo, goes to NDSU and is good friends with all four, friends he says that are irreplaceable.
"When you put all four of them together the atmosphere was incredible. They were the nicest, happiest girls I ever knew," he said.
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