12 weeks on, Xcel sole investigator in deadly Hopkins pole collapse
Twelve weeks after a utility pole crashed onto Kenny Green's car in Hopkins and killed the 31-year-old driver, Xcel Energy remains the only entity investigating what went wrong, with no deadline for releasing answers.[1]
In a statement this week, Xcel said its internal review of the August pole failure is still underway, even as Green's family and their attorney press for outside oversight and state regulators confirm they will not probe the fatal collapse.[1]
The incident began when a wooden utility pole toppled onto Green's vehicle in Hopkins, killing him, despite company records showing the 29-year-old pole had passed inspection in 2023 at 93% of its original strength and with no prior complaints.[1] Hopkins police quickly concluded there was no criminal element and declined to investigate further, while the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) told Green's attorney that it does not examine deadly accidents and would not open a case on the pole collapse.[1]
University of Minnesota structural engineering professor Arturo Schultz described such a failure of a relatively young, recently inspected pole as "extremely uncommon," saying one plausible explanation is that the soil at the base of the pole may have given way, rather than the wood itself suddenly failing.[1] That scenario raises questions not only about Xcel's inspection practices but also about whether broader safety standards or third-party reviews are needed when utility infrastructure is close to roads and homes.
Attorney Joshua Newville, who represents Green's family, has urged the PUC to assert oversight, arguing that it is unrealistic to expect Xcel to fully police itself after a fatal incident that could expose it to liability and reputational damage.[1] With law enforcement, state regulators and federal agencies all staying on the sidelines, he says the current setup leaves the public dependent on whatever conclusions Xcel chooses to share and whatever fixes it decides to make, if any.
That concentration of control means Xcel will effectively write the official account of why the pole failed and what should change, even as experts stress how rare such collapses are and the victim's family continues to grieve without an independent explanation.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Incident: A utility pole fell onto Kenny Green’s car in Hopkins about 12 weeks ago, killing the 31-year-old driver.
- Xcel data: The 29-year-old pole was last inspected in 2023 and reportedly measured at 93% strength, with no prior complaints logged.
- Investigations: Hopkins police are not investigating because they see no crime, the Public Utilities Commission says it does not investigate deadly accidents, and Xcel Energy is the only entity conducting a review with no stated end date.
- Expert view: A University of Minnesota structural engineer says such a pole failure is “extremely uncommon” and suggests soil failure at the base as a possible mechanism.
- Accountability concern: Attorney Joshua Newville, who wrote to the PUC seeking oversight, calls it unrealistic to expect Xcel to sufficiently regulate itself after a fatal incident.
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