Dakota County Road 68 is now named after former sheriff's deputy Luther Klug, nearly three decades after he was killed by a drunken driver along the roadway south of Hastings.
Dakota County, the Sheriff's Office and local and state law enforcement partners on Thursday, April 11 recognized the Deputy Luther Klug Memorial Highway. The nearly 2-mile stretch of County Road 68 connects Highway 316 and County Road 54 in Ravenna Township.
“The dedication of the roadway in Deputy Luther Klug's name has as much if not more meaning than 28 years ago when he tragically lost his life," Dakota County Sheriff Joe Leko said. “This shows that we truly do not forget, no matter how much time has passed."
On July 15, 1996, Klug had finished working the afternoon shift and was driving home. He stopped to assist Hastings police on a call he thought might need backup. As he drove home afterward, his squad car was broadsided by a drunken driver. Klug died early the next morning at a St. Paul hospital.
Klug's family attended the dedication ceremony, including his wife, Geri, son Jordan, siblings and cousins. Jordan Klug, who was 4 when his father died, is now a Dakota County sheriff's sergeant. Many current and former sheriff's deputies and staff also were present for the dedication.
The Dakota County Board of Commissioners approved the highway dedication last year, and board members attended the event. The memorial is recognized on signs at each end of the county road.
“This roadway, now named Deputy Luther Klug Memorial Highway, will forever honor and remember Luther's sacrifice," Leko said. “For those who pass the sign on this road, this is not just another sign. The sign is not just a reminder of the life lost, but to honor and remember how Luther lived, who he was as a person, and the profession he represents."
Watch a video recap of the dedication.