‘It Happens Fast': Minnesota Driver Shares Fatal Crash Story

With the holiday season in full swing, Megan Severson of Preston, Minnesota, is speaking out about the fatal consequences of distracted driving; a message she and the Minnesota State Patrol hope will resonate with drivers across the state.

Sgt. Troy Christianson of the Minnesota State Patrol shared the harrowing story recently as a serious reminder to pay attention while driving.

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Severson’s life was forever altered on October 17, 2019, when a moment of distraction led to a deadly chain-reaction crash on Highway 52 in St. Paul.

A Life-Changing Moment

Severson, then 20 years old, was on what should have been a routine trip to visit her boyfriend in North Dakota. As she checked her GPS to confirm her next exit, her vehicle, traveling at 70 mph in a 55 mph zone, slammed into a stopped car. The collision caused a multi-vehicle pileup, claiming the life of Anthony Kawino, a 33-year-old Burnsville resident and passenger in the car she hit.

The scene was harrowing. “I saw them pulling the blanket over the deceased, and it clicked in my brain that this is bad. Very, very bad,” Severson recalls.

Minnesota State Patrol Sgt. Daniel Dixon, who reconstructed the crash, noted that at Severson’s speed, looking away for just five seconds equates to traveling nearly two football fields. “The answers were obvious,” he said. “She was speeding and distracted.”

The Consequences

Severson’s life took a sharp turn as she faced a criminal vehicular homicide charge, a felony that could result in significant prison time. Ultimately, she pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months in jail, five years of probation, and an annual visit to jail on October 17th, a somber reminder of the crash.

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“It’s probably the worst day of the year for me,” Severson said. “Everything just cycles back as if it happened yesterday. The crash, Anthony, his family. What would he be doing? Would he have a family of his own? Married? Kids?”

Lessons Learned

Now 25, Severson uses her second chance at life to spread awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.

“Don’t do it, because there are heavy consequences,” she urges. “It’s than prison, jail, or probation. It’s your whole life. The guilt, the pain. We have to realize it’s not just us on the road.”

Her plea comes as Minnesota faces ongoing challenges with distracted driving. Between 2019 and 2023, distractions were a factor in one in 11 crashes statewide, contributing to an average of 29 deaths and 146 serious injuries annually, the State Patrol says.

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In 2024 alone, distractions have already played a role in 27 traffic fatalities as of December 17.

A Call to Action

Sgt. Dixon echoes Severson’s frustration, noting how preventable these tragedies are. “It seems like as the cars get better, safer, and smarter that drivers get more relaxed and less attentive to what’s going on out there,” he said. “It’s evident that the message is not getting across because people are still playing on their phones while driving all the time, as much as you try to explain that this is dangerous.”

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For Severson, the weight of her actions fuels her resolve to make a difference. “I’m not living for just myself. I’m living for two. The life that I took. It makes me want to push to be the best I can be.”

As holiday travel peaks, Severson’s story serves as a poignant reminder to stay focused behind the wheel. A momentary glance at a screen or GPS may feel insignificant, but it can irrevocably alter lives. Put distractions away, stay attentive, and remember: You’re not just driving for yourself but for everyone else on the road.