The Fillmore County Sheriff says his office usually answers an average of two to four fatalities each year. But, in about two months, they've handled nearly three times that number. In a small county, they're more than numbers, they're neighbors.
Patrol duty in Fillmore County includes everything from traffic calls to emergencies.
"We wear this façade that we're tough and we can handle this and it doesn't bother us. And in fact, it does," Fillmore County Sheriff Daryl Jensen said.
It's beginning to wear on deputies and rescue crews who have handled nearly a dozen deaths over the past few months.
"I knew everybody in the vehicle and several of these cases I've known these folks. And so, yeah you just have to deal with that."
On that call, Sheriff Daryl Jensen says the teens in the crash were the same age as his kids.
"In my case, I have to be the sheriff and I have to be a father and a friend also. And separating those out appropriately is challenging sometimes," Jensen said.
Fillmore County's Sheriff says some of his deputies have been out to several fatality calls.
"These are young people that lost their lives and it touches families and friends. And....it's tough. I keep saying over and over again this is what we do. We shouldn't be surprised by having to go to a traffic fatality."
But mourning a friend and answering another call is tough duty indeed
"As we found out in the last month, you never know when the next one's going to happen. And you need to be strong for everybody. You need to work up the cases right. So....it's a challenge," Jensen said.
Fillmore County's Sheriff says he's never seen this many fatalities in the area in such a short period of time.
