EAST BETHEL, Minn. — Reiley Hoopman, 20, died Saturday morning when the car he was driving went off the road and hit a traffic pole on Highway 65 and Viking Blvd. in East Bethel.
Hoopman's parents said he was an amazing athlete. Very well liked. Always smiling.
According to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, the cause of the crash still isn't clear, but they do not believe the new design of the intersection had anything to do with it.
This summer, MnDot finished installing what they call a "Reduced Conflict Intersection" at this spot. What other states refer to as a "J-turn intersection."
It is meant to cut down on T-bone crashes.
"Oftentimes those types of crashes are the most deadly types of crashes," said Melissa Barnes, MnDot engineer.
In order to cross Highway 65 on Viking Boulevard, first you have to turn right, then make a U-turn at another signal. That's the so-called "J-turn."
This is the first intersection of its kind in Minnesota with traffic signals. MnDot says it works in other states.
"They are being shown that they improve safety in preliminary studies, from like 15 to 20 percent safer than a traditional signalized intersection," Barnes said.
In the tragic crash over the weekend, the State Patrol says Hoopman was traveling north on Highway 65. So he would not have needed to deal with the J-turn at all.
With this kind of intersection, not much changes for those driving on the main highway.
Over the last three years before the "J-turn" opened, there had been 21 crashes at this intersection, but none were fatal.