Seven days after a July 11 crash on a rural Rock County highway, 67-year-old Hardwick resident Bryan Fodness succumbed to his injuries at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls on July 18. While the public obituary confirms the basic timeline, investigators are still working to answer the community’s pressing questions: What exactly happened on that summer Friday, and why?
Where the Investigation Stands
According to Minnesota State Patrol procedure, a fatal motorcycle collision triggers an in-depth crash reconstruction. Until any technical analysis is complete, officials have released no findings on speed, road conditions, or the possibility of other vehicles being involved.
Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths spokesman Lt. Gordon Shank notes that investigators are seeing the same risk factors again and again:
“We continue to see speed as a factor for a lot of these fatal crashes.”
With those words in mind, the coming reconstruction will focus heavily on vehicle telemetry and witness estimates of velocity.
The Impact
Friends remember Fodness as a 40-year volunteer firefighter and American Legion member whose quick wit and willingness to help defined Hardwick’s close-knit spirit. Funeral services scheduled for July 25–26 at St. Catherine Catholic Church are expected to draw residents from across Rock County in a shared moment of grief and reflection.
New Laws Riders Should Know
Minnesota’s newly enacted lane-splitting and lane-filtering law (effective July 1, 2025) allows motorcyclists to pass slow or stopped traffic under strict speed limits—25 mph for splitting, 15 mph for filtering—but bans the maneuvers in school and work zones. The Department of Public Safety urges drivers to expect motorcycles in adjacent lanes and leave adequate space.
What Happens Next
- Crash Reconstruction Report – Once State Patrol analysts finish, findings will be forwarded to the Rock County Attorney for any charging decisions.
- Public Release – Expect a synopsis of key factors (speed, impairment, road design) when the investigation closes—often 6–8 weeks after the crash.
- Community Review – Hardwick leaders say results will guide local road-safety talks and potentially influence future signage or speed enforcement near the crash site.
Accident statistics can feel impersonal, but each number represents a life story like Bryan Fodness’s—family man, volunteer, neighbor. Whether you ride or drive, the safest choice on Minnesota roads is usually the simplest: respect the speed limit, stay attentive, and watch for two-wheelers. In a state averaging more than one rider death every week, those small decisions could keep the next obituary from ever being written.
