Mission Statement
Our mission is to reduce injuries and fatalities associated with traffic crashes in Wright County, Minnesota through safety education and prevention.
Method
The Safe Communities model addresses traffic safety issues through a multifaceted approach known as the 4 Es – Education, Enforcement, Engineering, and Emergency Medical Services. SCWC collaborates with a broad base of local leadership and other traffic partners to address these areas and make Wright County roads safer for everyone.
History
In 1997, a group of concerned citizens recognized that Wright County had higher than average crash fatalities and serious injuries, and wanted to do something about it. So, they formed a coalition that started as a three year pilot program to study crash injury data and develop traffic safety education and interventions. From there, Safe Communities of Wright County grew to become a renowned traffic safety coalition with a thirty member Board of Directors, each of whom has a passion for creating safer traffic conditions and reducing serious injury and fatal crashes in our county. Today, Safe Communities of Wright County has formalized to become a 501c3 nonprofit organization that is on the leading edge of traffic safety in our state and across the country.
Partners
- Buffalo Hospital
- Allina Health EMS
- Annandale Police Department
- Buffalo Police Department
- CentraCare Health – Monticello
- Howard Lake Police Department
- Wright County Sheriff’s Office
- Wright County Highway Department
- Wright County Public Health
- Wright County Attorney’s Office
- Wright County Board of Commissioners
- Wright County Court Services
- Wright County School Districts: Annandale, Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose, Dassel-Cokato, Delano, Howard Lake, Maple Lake, Monticello, Rockford, and St. Michael-Albertville
- MN Department of Public Safety – Office of Traffic Safety
- MN Department of Transportation
- MN State Patrol
Board of Directors
| Safe Communities of Wright County 2024 Board Members | |
| BOARD MEMBER | BOARD SEAT |
| Trooper Andrew Thelen | MN State Patrol |
| Chief Pat Budke | Buffalo Police Department |
| Sheriff Sean Deringer | Wright County Sheriff Office |
| Chad Hausmann | Wright County Highway Engineer |
| Cody Sedbrook | Highway Department | Wright County, MN – Official Website |
| Sara Buermann | Highway Department | Wright County, MN – Official Website |
| Emily Splittstozer | Buffalo Hospital |
| Chief Pete Standafer | Annandale Police Department |
| Tina Diedrick | Wright County Board of Commissioners |
| Brian Lutes (Vice Chairperson) | Wright County Attorney |
| Tom Feddema | Wright County Court Services |
| Brian Nord (Treasurer) | Allina Health EMS |
| Melissa Muehring-Paulson | School District Rep |
| Tim Prom | School Board Rep |
| Sarah Grosshuesch | Wright County Public Health |
| Chief Dave Thompson (Chairperson) | Howard Lake Police Department |
| Kai Sin | Wright County Public Health |
| Joel Torkelson (Board Secretary) | Wright County Public Health |
| Melissa Pribyl | CentraCare – Monticello | CentraCare Hospitals |
| Amy LaVallee | Justdrive (justdriveday.com) |
| Bill Van Koevering | Regional TZD Coordinator, MNDOT |
| Becky Putzke | OTS LE Liaison |
| Michelle Wiebe | CMCOA – Central Minnesota Council on Aging |
| Lt. Russell Erkens | Wright County Sheriff Office |
| Carrie Krienke | Community Member |
| Chief Pete Standafer | Police – Annandale, MN |
| Seth Hanson | Emergency Management Director, Wright County |
Fatal Review Committee
Safe Communities of Wright County has established a Fatal Review Committee, which conducts regular reviews of local traffic incidents that include serious injuries or fatalities. The purpose of the FRC is to identify trends that contributed to the crashes and the resulting fatalities. The FRC will identify how the fatal crashes could have been avoided and identify what actions may be taken to prevent similar types of crashes.
WHAT CAN I DO?
WEAR A SEAT BELT:
Seat belts save lives. BUCKLE UP. EVERY SEAT. EVERY TIME.
DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT:
Drive safe, drive smart, and drive the speed limit. The speed limit is not a suggestion, it is the law.
CONCENTRATE ON DRIVING:
Crashes aren’t accidents, and are often PREDICTABLE AND PREVENTABLE. Put away distractions and focus on the road.
DRIVE SOBER:
Buzzed driving is drunk driving. Impairment begins with the first drink. Never drive drunk or get into a vehicle with a drunk driver!
HOW CAN I HELP?
- Become a partner with SCWC and help reduce crashes in your community. Contact us now at 763-241-9888.
- Follow us on Facebook and share our posts!
- You can help make Wright County a safer place to travel. There are a variety of ways that you can become involved to promote traffic safety among your neighbors, family, friends, employees and customers. Contact us for more information.