Minnesota trooper urges replacing "accident" with "crash" to highlight driver responsibility.

Minnesota State Trooper Sgt. Troy Christianson says car crashes should not be called "accidents" because the term wrongly suggests no one is at fault. He points to a nearly 20-year-old court case where labeling a deliberate police vehicle ramming as an "accident" complicated legal proceedings. Christianson stresses that most crashes result from driver choices like speeding, distraction, or impaired driving, not random events. While weather and road conditions play a role, he emphasizes that drivers remain responsible for controlling their vehicles. The Minnesota State Patrol promotes using "crash" to foster accountability and support its "Drive Toward Zero Deaths" initiative, urging people to slow down, stay focused, buckle up, and plan sober rides.