A teenage boy died after a motorist struck his bicycle in Blaine, MN last Friday night. Tony Janisch (16) of Coon Rapids was riding his bike with his brothers and a friend when he was run over by a motorist suspected of being under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
The fatal crash happened just after 6:30 P.M. at the intersection of 129th Ave. NE and Lincoln St. in Blaine. Daniel Rodman (28) of Blaine was traveling westbound when he struck the teen head-on. He died at the scene. Janisch’s mother Jenny said that his 15-year-old brother Tanner was with him at the time. She told the Star Tribune that “The two were best friends. Tanner held Tony in his arms until the ambulance arrived.”
A 28-year-old Blaine man has been arrested in connection with the death of a teenage bicyclist who was struck by a vehicle Friday evening in Blaine. https://t.co/bL8Gmlmz6R
— Star Tribune (@StarTribune) March 21, 2020
Rodman remains jailed and was charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide. According to the charges, witnesses said that the teenagers were “sufficiently off to the side to avoid impeding traffic,” leaving Rodman “a full opportunity to see them and avoid a collision.”
A drug recognition expert concluded that Rodman was unable to safely operate a vehicle due to being under the influence of marijuana and/or drugs and alcohol. Rodman’s criminal rap sheet spans his entire life, including numerous convictions for driving without a valid license. He was also convicted twice for driving under the influence of alcohol and for weapons violations, auto theft, domestic assault, having open alcohol in a vehicle and witness tampering. The Minnesota Department of Safety said that Rodman’s license was valid at the time of the crash.
Friday was just the second day that Janisch had gotten back on his bike after an injury last summer caused him to have to fight to walk again. A GoFundMe page was set-up to help support the family.
Minnesota Bicycle Accident Legal Team
Our bicycle accident lawyers help crash victims and families who lost a loved one in cases throughout Minnesota and nationwide. We have collected millions of dollars for our clients, many of whom were injured or killed due to the negligence of careless drivers.
Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman, who lead our bicycle accident legal team, were named Minnesota “Attorneys of the Year” for their work in bringing justice for a family who lost their wife and mother in a bicycle crash.
While no amount of money could ever make up for the loss your family suffered, filing a wrongful death lawsuit can help you seek compensation for damages such as:
- Funeral expenses
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
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