Grabbing Another Car at 90 MPH 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
an dies after road-rage crash
By Michelle Tan
mtan@stcloudtimes.com
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RICE -- A Sauk Rapids man died Monday morning after a car crash authorities believe was fueled by road rage.
William Michael Majerus, 25, was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital after the crash about 7 p.m. Sunday on U.S. Highway 10, about one-half mile east of Benton County Road 40. He suffered extensive injuries after his car hit another car on Highway 10, went off the road and rolled about 425 feet before landing in a cornfield, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
The passenger in his car, Joshua Ryan Hanson, 21, of Sauk Rapids, was treated and released Monday from the hospital.
The driver of the other car, a 16-year-old boy from Sauk Rapids, and his 17-year-old male passenger, also from Sauk Rapids, were not injured. They were released to their parents.
Patricia Holland, of Grey Eagle, said her oldest son, Majerus, was supposed to move to Sauk Rapids on Monday. Majerus had a 5-year-old daughter.
She said she would miss her son's sense of humor and outgoing nature.
"He was kind of like, there's no such thing as strangers," she said.
Potent misunderstanding
On Sunday, Majerus and Hanson were going to Little Rock Lake to fish. They were driving west on Highway 10 when they spotted the car driven by the 16-year-old, Trooper Rich Kitzmiller said.
The boys had a yellow strobe light, and they were putting it on the dashboard and using it to stop three cars driven by their friends, Lt. Paul VanVoorhis said.
When Majerus saw what the boys were doing, he called 911. Majerus, who declined to give his name to the State Patrol dispatcher, was told a trooper was on the way, VanVoorhis said.
After placing the call, Majerus decided to follow the juveniles, VanVoorhis said. It was unknown why he made that decision, Kitzmiller said.
When the boys realized they were being followed, they picked up speed to try to lose Majerus and Hanson, VanVoorhis said. They started a high- speed chase that wound into the neighborhoods near West Lake Road and back onto Highway 10.
The boys, who told authorities they were scared and didn't know why they were being chased, called 911. They were told to slow down and pull into a busy and well-lighted gas station in Royalton.
By that time, both cars were traveling at 85 to 90 mph, VanVoorhis said.
Painful end
As they approached County Road 40, the cars were less than half a car-length away from each other. The boys were in the left lane; Majerus and Hanson were in the right.
ajerus pushed himself out through the window and tried to grab the passenger door of the boys' car, VanVoorhis said.
That's when the front left side of Majerus' car hit the right back side of the boys' car. Majerus' car skidded before hitting the boys' car again. Majerus lost control of the car and it spun off the highway sideways, into the ditch and rolled over multiple times before landing about 425 feet away. Majerus was thrown from the car. He and Hanson were not wearing seat belts.
After the accident, the boys called 911. They met a trooper at the Tom Thumb in Rice. Their friends in the other cars were not involved in the chase.
Autopsy results will reveal whether Majerus had been drinking, VanVoorhis said. Hanson and the juveniles had not been drinking.
The State Patrol will continue to investigate. On Monday, forensic mappers reconstructed the scene. A report will be submitted to the Benton County attorney in about three weeks. No charges had been filed Monday evening.
Law enforcement agencies rely on the public to report crimes as they happen, but "this didn't have to happen," VanVoorhis said.
"He tried to take the law into his own hands, and it turned out to be an awful situation," VanVoorhis said. "This was a needless death."
Troopers deal with incidents of road rage almost daily, VanVoorhis.
"It's when your emotions take control of your vehicle," he said
Submitted on 12/31/2002
Submitted by:
Todd A. Warren
Reference:
St. Cloud Times, 12/30/2003
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