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Washington County deputy honored for saving driver’s life
On Sunday, Majeski received the lifesaving award from the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association. This fall, his department also honored Majeski with a Medal of Valor.
MINNEAPOLIS — A Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy had only seconds to spare when he pulled a man from a fiery crash.
But despite that remarkable act, Deputy Chris Majeski believes his colleagues across the state “would’ve done the same exact thing.”
On Sunday night, Majeski received the lifesaving award from the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association. This fall, his own department also honored Majeski with a Medal of Valor.
“It’s pretty humbling,” Majeski told KARE 11’s Karla Hult on Monday about the award and the caliber of its fellow recipients.
‘Like the scene of a movie’
The recognition follows Majeski’s actions on June 17, 2023. At about 3:30 a.m., Majeski’s partner received a call of a wrong-way driver on Interstate 94 near the Hudson bridge. The driver was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes.
Majeski quickly navigated the shortest route to the scene, despite heavy construction in the area. Minutes later, he drove up to a crash near Manning Avenue in Afton.
“It was almost like the scene of a movie because of the fire, the exploding parts of the pick-up truck,” Majeski said about what he encountered.
Majeski quickly determined the wrong-way driver — who’d hit the construction barrier and rode on top of it for up to 100 yards — had died upon crashing head-on into a semi-truck. But he also quickly observed the semi driver was still alive, but unconscious.
“And all the fuel was leaking towards where the fire was,” Majeski said about the presence of diesel fuel.
The deputy then yelled to try to alert the driver.
“The driver was able to wake up enough to undo his seatbelt, and then he kind of lost consciousness again,” Majeski said.
That’s when the deputy jumped into action again, literally. He hopped over the barrier, grabbed the unconscious man and then dragged him back over the barrier. He then paused to look back.
“The cab of the semi was now on fire as well,” he remembered, before turning around to dodge speeding traffic and exploding debris.
“At this time, now the pickup truck has exploding parts,” he said, adding, “Luckily, I got him back to my squad, far enough back, where he was out of danger.”
Months later, the deputy with 20 years of experience still deflects any recognition, noting his thoughts remain with the family of the driver who didn’t survive. But the veteran law enforcement officer and father of three is also grateful he managed to save the other driver, a man with children of his own.
“I was put there by God for a reason. And having that knowledge of the best way to go. And having the skill set and the training to pull that guy out was all an act of God,” Majeski said.
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Police are investigating after three men were shot early on Saturday morning.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police are investigating after three men were shot in the Ventura Village neighborhood early Saturday morning.
According to Minneapolis police, officers were called to the area around East 21st Street and South 15th Avenue around 5 a.m. Saturday.
Officers found three men had been shot. One of the men died and the two others were taken to the hospital with what police described as life-threatening injuries.
Officials said the shooting happened at a small homeless encampment.
Police have not announced any arrests as of Saturday morning.
KARE 11 will update this story as more information is made available.
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St. Croix Chocolate Company in Marine on St. Croix has won national and international awards including Best of Show in this year’s America’s Division of the International Chocolate Awards.
Their chocolates are available at the St. Croix Chocolate Company kitchen or online.
This Halloween they are selling a Halloween Countdown Calendar that features 14 prize-winning recipes made into ghosts, bats, skulls and other spooky configurations. They also have a Boo Bag-handled tote that comes with their “best of” Halloween assortment.
Owner and Chocolatier, Robyn Dochterman, joined KARE 11 Saturday to share what St. Croix Chocolate Company has to offer.
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October is National Pasta Month and Red Rabbit‘s Corporate Chef, Adam Lerner, joined KARE 11 Saturday to show us how to make homemade noodles in the confines of your own kitchen.
