CHASKA, MN — A potentially devastating head-on collision was narrowly avoided Friday night after a Chaska police sergeant encountered a vehicle traveling the wrong direction on Highway 41. According to authorities, the incident occurred at approximately 10:15 p.m. on October 16, 2026, near Hundertmark Road in Chaska. A night shift sergeant was traveling northbound on Highway 41 when he suddenly noticed headlights approaching directly toward his patrol vehicle. Dashcam footage captured the frightening encounter as the officer realized another vehicle was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of the divided highway. With a posted speed limit of 50 mph in that area, the situation presented an immediate danger of a serious head-on collision. OFFICER TAKES EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID CRASH The sergeant quickly swerved to avoid the approaching vehicle, successfully preventing a collision. Rather than allowing the wrong-way driver to continue down the highway, the officer immediately turned his patrol vehicle around and initiated a traffic stop. Authorities say the sergeant was able to stop the vehicle before it traveled much farther in the wrong direction, potentially preventing a collision with another unsuspecting motorist. DRIVER’S PRELIMINARY ALCOHOL TEST TWICE THE LEGAL LIMIT Police identified the driver as a 56-year-old woman. During the investigation, authorities administered a preliminary breath test that reportedly showed an alcohol concentration of 0.16%, twice Minnesota’s legal driving limit of 0.08%. The woman was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired. Chaska police have not publicly identified the driver, and it remains unclear whether formal criminal charges have been filed. A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE ENDED VERY DIFFERENTLY Wrong-way driving on divided highways presents an especially serious danger because approaching motorists may have little time to recognize the threat and react. In this case, the sergeant’s quick response allowed him to avoid the oncoming vehicle and intervene before the driver continued farther along Highway 41. Fortunately, no collision was reported during the encounter. The incident serves as another reminder of the potentially devastating consequences of impaired driving and the importance of keeping impaired drivers off Minnesota roadways. Minnesota Now | Chaska, Minnesota