Itasca County Highway 169 Task Force recognized with Towards Zero Deaths Award

DULUTH, Minn. – The Itasca County Highway 169 Task Force was recognized with the Traffic Safety Innovation Award at the 2025 Minnesota Towards Zero Deaths Conference in Prior Lake last week, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The awards recognize outstanding work and accomplishments to improve traffic safety and reduce the number of people who are killed or seriously injured while traveling Minnesota roads.

After suffering 10 fatal crashes in their community since June 2019, traffic safety stakeholders came together to form the Itasca County Highway 169 Task Force. The group has representation from the Itasca County Safe Roads Coalition, Itasca County Sheriff’s Department, Minnesota State Patrol District 3100, and MnDOT District 1. Led by Safe Roads Coalition Coordinator Shane Troumbly and Chief Deputy Christopher Peterson of the Sheriff’s Office, the Task Force has played a critical role in saving lives.
“One year. Zero lives lost. That’s not luck — that’s the result of dedication, focused enforcement and a shared commitment to keeping families safe,” said State Patrol Capt. Jason Engeldinger. “The Highway 169 Task Force shows what’s possible when we work together. We’re not just reducing crashes; we’re saving lives.”

About TZD awards

TZD awards are presented annually to individuals and organizations in Minnesota that show excellence in TZD’s emphasis areas of enforcement, emergency medical and trauma services, education, engineering, child passenger safety and judicial/court systems. Award recipients have shown their leadership and creative capacities in efforts to improve traffic safety throughout the state and build partnerships.

The Minnesota TZD program is an interdisciplinary partnership led by the State Departments of Health, Transportation and Public Safety. This collaboration began in 2003 and has worked to reduce roadway fatalities by 27 percent.

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