Help cover funeral expenses for Minneapolis 911 dispatcher killed in crash

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Jenna Bixby, 30, was killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 252 in Brooklyn Park last month. Photo credit: Nikki Orlicki

The family of Minneapolis 911 dispatcher Jenna Bixby has established a fundraiser to help cover funeral expenses for the 30-year-old killed in a crash with a wrong-way driver on Highway 252 in Brooklyn Park. Bixby was on her way to work at the time of the crash.

“We are raising money to help bring awareness to the tragic death of Jenna Bixby, a 911 dispatch who was killed by a suspected drunk driver,” her family wrote on the GoFundMe account. “Jenna was a beautiful person who was on her way work when her life was tragically taken by a around 8pm on 2/17/2018. Jenna loved helping others and animals. Proceeds will help cover final expenses and all others will be donated to causes Jenna loved. “

The incident happened just before 8 p.m. Saturday as Bixby was driving her Hyundai Elantra south on Highway 252 just north of Brookdale Drive in Brooklyn Park. Meanwhile, a man police believe was driving drunk on the wrong side of the highway struck her car head on. She was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other driver was identified by Minnesota State Patrol as a 72-year-old man from Blaine. He was transported to North Memorial Medical Center via ambulance and remains in critical condition.

"We just want to know why," said Nikki Orlicki, Bixby's sister, told Fox 9 Sunday afternoon. "We don't understand. Why her? She was going to work to save people, and somebody decided to take her life and didn't care."

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Medaria Arradondo are offering their condolences to Bixby’s family.

“On behalf of the MPD I want to extend our heartfelt condolences to MECC dispatcher Jenna Bixby's family, friends and her extended 911 family. Jenna died as a result of a traffic incident that took her life Saturday evening,” Chief Arradondo said in a statement Monday. “Jenna was a dedicated and professional emergency communications dispatcher who kept Minneapolis residents and MPD officers safe during her shift. Her life was sadly taken as she was on her way to work to keep us all safe. To Jenna's family and our MECC partners please know you have our support during this very difficult time.”

"Minneapolis’ Emergency Communications staff work day-and-night to keep people safe. As a 911 Dispatcher, that’s what Jenna Bixby did for years – and what she was on her way to do at City Hall when her life was tragically taken late last night,” Mayor Frey said in a statement Sunday. “My thoughts are with her family, friends, neighbors and all of her colleagues in City Hall who are mourning her loss. She was an extraordinary person.” 

You can donate to Jenna Bixby’s fund at https://www.gofundme.com/eow-2172018-jenna-bixby