Robbinsdale Man Among Motorcycle Fatalities

The Department of Public Safety says this past weekend was a deadly one with multiple motorcycle fatalities. A motorcycle accident in Brooklyn Center resulted in one death and a Robbinsdale man died after injuries from a crash in Bloomington.

Police say on Friday night in Brooklyn Center, Robert Schmidt, age 55 of Ham Lake, crashed into a concrete barrier as he was trying to go from northbound Highway 100 to Eastbound I-394. He was pronounced dead early Saturday morning.

Also early Saturday morning, Cory Ray Jones, 48, from Robbinsdale died near the I-494 and Highway 100 junction in Bloomington.

Public safety officials say there have now been 19 motorcycle riders who have died on Minnesota roads this year. At this time last year, there were only 14.

“That’s a huge concern,” says Bill Shaffer, DPS motorcycle safety coordinator. “It’s a tragedy for Minnesota’s riding community. I think Minnesota has a pretty close-knit writing community. People love riding in Minnesota despite that we’re a cold weather state. We rank in the top dozen for registered operators and motorcycles in the country. People love their motorcycles here.”

DPS on Motorcycle Fatalities: “Expect the Unexpected”

DPS urges people to think safety when riding motorcycles this summer. Wear brightly-colored protective gear and expect the unexpected.

“You’ve got to really keep your head in the game when you’re on a bike,” says Shaffer. “If you are in a crash, the outcomes aren’t very good. You’ve got to always be scanning for hazards, moving your eyes around, anticipating hazards, evaluating potential hazards and ready to take action in a moment’s notice.”

The total number of deaths on the road in Minnesota last weekend was 11, which is the most in a single weekend since mid-October 2016.

The Department of Public Safety also wants bicycle riders to pedal with caution too. So far two bicyclists have died in Minnesota, compared to zero at this time last year.