Obituary and Newspaper ArticlesI killed, 3 hurt in crash on 1.494 in Eden Prairie
One man was killed and three drivers were hurt in a multivehicle
accident on Interstate Hwy. 494 in Eden Prairie during rush hour Fri-
day morning. The accident tied up commuters for hours.
Five vehicles, one a motorcycle, were involved in the accident
about 7:40 a.m. Traffic backed up in both directions on I-494. The
State Patrol closed southbound lanes between Crosstown Hwy. 62 and
Valley View Road until shortly after noon, said Sgt. Chuck Walerius.
He said the chain -reaction accident started when a sports car
entered northbound traffic at the Valley View ramp and collided with
a minivan. The two vehicles stuck together until they veered into the
grassy median. Then they unhooked and crashed with a motorcycle
and two cars in southbound lanes. The sports car driver walked away
from the accident, but one of the southbound drivers was killed,
Walerius said. The name of the dead man, who was about 30 years
old, was not being released until relatives were notified.
The motorcyclist was in critical condition at Fairview Southdale
Hospital in Edina, as was a 43 -year-old Minneapolis man at Hen-
nepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. A 40 -year-old Eden
Prairie woman was reported in serious condition at Methodist Hospi-
tal HealthSystem Minnesota in St. Louis Park. No other information
about the victims was available.
— Jim Adams
Victim of muitivehide
accident is identified
The State Patrol on Saturday night identified
the driver killed Friday in a five -vehicle accident
in Eden Prairie during the morning rush hour.
Philip Isaacson, 30, of Chanhassen, died at the
scene on Interstate Hwy. 494, a half -mile north
of Valley View Road.
Motorcyclist Scott Harkema, 25, of Plymouth,
was in critical but stable condition Saturday at
Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina
The State Patrol said that cars driven by John
Dignan and Kim Vanderwerf crossed the high-
way median from the northbound lanes, hitting
Isaacson's car, Harkema's motorcycle and anoth-
er car driven by Robert Lescano.
Dignan, 50, and Lescano, 38, had only minor
injuries; Vanderwerf, 40, was in fair condition
Saturday at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park.
All three are Eden Prairie residents.
— H.J. Cummins
Isaacson
Philip 0. Isaacson, Jr., age
30, of Minnetonka.
Beloved son and brother
died suddenly on 9-24-99
and is now with the Lord.
Was active in church and
community. Survived by
loving parents. Philp and
Milla Isaacson, Chanhas-
sen; brother & sister -m -
law, Michael & Sheila
Isaacson, Wichita. KS;
sister & brother-in-law,
Sopflia & Christopher Hol-
land of Raleigh. NC; nieces
and nephews, Victoria,
Austin, Cheyenne,
Michaela, Emily, Alexan-
der, and Gareth; aunts,
uncles; cousins; and many
friends. Funeral Service
Wednesday. Sept. 29.
1999 at 11 AM, Family of
Christ Lutheran Church,
275 East Lake Dr., Chan-
hassen (612-934-5659).
Visitation Tuesday 5-8 PM
at Huber Funeral Home,
520 2nd St., Excelsior.
Also 1 hour prior to the
service at the church on
Wednesday. Interment
Pioneer Cemetery, Chan-
hassen. In lieu of flowers
memorials preferred. "He
will be greatly missed for
his outgoing spirit and
personality."
Huber Funeral Homes
Excelsior Chapel
612-474-9595