A broadside accident occurred Wednesday in St. Cloud between an oversized-load truck carrying wind turbine parts and a minivan, resulting in one death. Millard and Shirlee Nelson of South Haven were heading north at the intersection of Highway 15 and Second Street about to turn left. At around 11 a.m., as driver Millard was turning, the van was struck by the truck, which was at the time heading south on Highway 15.

The State Patrol reports that the truck driver was James Carroll, 52, of White Oak, N.C. Carroll was not injured. He was driving a permitted oversized-load truck for Anderson Trucking Services, Inc. (ATS). Prior to last week's accident, Carroll was deemed by ATS to have achieved one million accident-free miles. Shirlee Nelson, 85, died in the accident. Millard Nelson, 90, was injured and taken to the hospital.

The couple's son Terry Nelson said Millard is at home now, sore, but doing the best he can.

State Patrol Lt. Mark Peterson said this case is under investigation and could take weeks to finish. Peterson said the case is reviewed by the state's attorneys before the information can be made public.

The Minnesota State Patrol is asking for witnesses to come forward with any additional information about the accident. Their office phone number is (320) 255-2916.

Wind energy

Wind energy is growing rapidly as people seek alternative sources for power needs. According to American Wind Energy Association's Web site, awea.org, as of 2005 $7 billion had been invested into the wind industry.

Ted Coulianos, supervisor to the oversized/overweight permit section of MnDOT, said the wind industry is booming and is continually growing.

"We average more than 150 to 175 separate permits each week for wind energy," Coulianos said. One of our higher weeks has been as high as 192."

Coulianos said there will be even more permits issued next year.

A typical wind turbine transport

Before a large load truck carrier can transport the wind turbine they must turn in a pre-route survey of the route planned in transporting the load. After a pre-route is planned, Coulianos said MnDOT notifies the districts along the route to have their engineers determine if there are any additional restrictions.

After the pre-route and other considerations are accepted, a permit can be issued. A permit is good for a five-day period. During daylight hours within those five days, the carrier can transport the wind turbines. (Rush hours in Duluth and the Twin Cities are excepted.)

Coulianos said night traveling is rarely allowed because it was tested, but the testers "unanimously decided it was not a good idea."

Coulianos said the wind turbines are typically coming in from Duluth ports and being transported to Minnesota and its surrounding states.

Wind turbines can vary in size. On average, Coulianos said one turbine can take 13 to 15 truck loads, typically transporting one piece at a time.

Coulianos said there's not a way to alert drivers of possible wind turbine transportation since the companies can transport any day within the five-day period.

When asked if there was a feasible way to alert drivers, Coulianos replied, "We don't do it for other loads; why would we do it for wind energy?"

Though some travelers may be upset by the transportation of wind turbines, "We don't have a choice in a sense," Coulianos said. "People will have to be patient."

The accident

The number-one thing MnDOT can do in wind turbine transportation is ensure the public's safety on the roads, Coulianos said.

Coulianos also said for the three and a half years he's worked for MnDOT, this is the first fatality he's known involving transportation of wind turbines.

"This is what we plan not to happen," Coulianos said. "This is very serious to us."

Coulianos said that MnDOT, the trucking company, and others will meet to review this incident and decide what to do in the future.

He said people need to use the same sense as they would with driving and trains, being cautious around freight transportations.

"People are not aware of this. It's a new thing for motorists to see," Coulianos said.

"Don't panic," he added. "Follow directions and do what the lead car is asking you to do."