Jordan, MN — April 8, 2025, Catherine Ann Johnston was killed in a truck accident at about 1 p.m. on U.S. Route 169 in Scott County.
Authorities said a 2017 Subaru Outback was headed west on State Highway 282/2nd Street West when it was hit by a semi-truck at the intersection with U.S. 169.
The Subaru driver, 78-year-old Jordan resident Catherine Ann Johnston, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. Her name has not been made public yet.
The truck driver was not injured, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Scott County crash. The accident is still being investigated.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a crash happens at the intersection of a state highway and a major U.S. route, like Highway 282 and U.S. 169 in Jordan, the first thing I want to know is whether both drivers had a clear view and enough time to react. In this case, a semi-truck struck a westbound Subaru Outback at the intersection, killing the 78-year-old driver. That’s a serious outcome that raises important legal questions about right of way, visibility and timing.
Any time a passenger vehicle crosses or turns onto a high-speed highway, it’s the responsibility of the driver to yield to through traffic. But that responsibility is shared in part by commercial drivers, who are expected to remain alert to slower-moving or turning vehicles, especially in areas where intersections are present. The law requires both parties to exercise reasonable care, and in situations like this, that means slowing down if something doesn’t look right, even if you technically have the right of way.
Intersections like this one often create confusion. Were there stop signs, signals or merging lanes? Was the Subaru making a left turn across traffic or trying to cross all lanes to head south? These are the details that will shape any determination of fault. And more importantly, they’ll determine whether the crash was truly unavoidable, or whether someone failed to account for the conditions in front of them.
For the truck driver, investigators will need to evaluate speed, lane position and reaction time. Was the truck traveling at or below the posted limit? Did the driver brake or swerve before impact? The truck’s black box will provide those answers, along with critical insight into whether the driver was attentive or distracted. Even a few seconds of delayed reaction can make the difference between a close call and a fatal crash.
And finally, there’s the matter of intersection design. Some crossings, especially in semi-rural areas, lack protected turn lanes, proper lighting or clear sight lines. If this location has a history of serious accidents or complaints, then that may point to a broader safety issue that extends beyond either driver.
At the end of the day, a woman lost her life trying to cross or merge at a highway intersection. That outcome demands more than a surface-level explanation. A full investigation should look not just at who had the right of way, but whether everyone involved exercised the level of care the law requires, and whether this was truly a split-second misjudgment or a preventable failure to anticipate danger.
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