Jamie Krueger and his 17-year-old daughter Genevieve were heading home in the family’s Toyota RAV4 SUV when a new Minnesota State Trooper decided to take the phrase “rookie move” a little too literally. The troopers were called to track down a suspected speeding driver, made a U-Turn, and ended up sideswiping the Kruegers last summer.

The Kruegers weren’t sure what was happening, as no lights or sires were active.

“I saw two cops get out of the car, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, What is going on here?’” Jamie told KSTP. “I felt like the Twilight Zone is happening.”

Genevieve, who braved a majority of the impact, was captured on the trooper’s body camera asking him, “What the f*** was that for?” She said it was a “very scary feeling.”

The troopers were respectful to the family, and the trooper training the rookie told Jamie he didn’t see him when he made the U-Turn. He gave Jamie the number for the state’s insurance company and gave him instructions on how to file a claim.

Like a true Minnesotan, Jamie hoped the rookie trooper wasn’t too hard on himself. He trusted that the insurance company would take care of the damages.

However, the state denied Jamie’s insurance claim

After following the trooper’s instructions, armed with the accident report that cited the rookie’s “improper turn/merge,” he turned to his insurance. His insurance company totaled the vehicle and repaired it, but sought a $1,000 deductible.

Jamie figured the state would pay. The state denied the claim, citing immunity for state employees.

“We are unable to consider your claim for payment,” the denial letter read, because “immunity applies.”

To add insult to injury, the trooper who hit the Kruegers wasn’t cited for the accident and was dismissed from any charges. The rookie did, however, leave the force two weeks later. Now, Jamie has to fork up the cash.

“I am just appalled the state won’t just do the right thing,” he said. “It isn’t even about the money, it’s about doing the right thing.”

Viewers shamed the state of Minnesota

In two days of publication, over 1,300 people commented on KSTP’s video on YouTube. All of them felt the state should be ashamed of itself.

“Bad publicity over a $1,000 claim is insane,” one viewer wrote. “Shame on you, Minnesota.”

Another said it doesn’t help the department’s image.

“This is exactly the type of thing that erodes public trust in law enforcement,” they wrote. “It makes cops seem untouchable and exempt from consequences.”

Someone else recalled their personal experience with the “immunity” clause.

“This happened to me in St. Cloud in 2017 after a cop crossed two lanes, one oncoming, to turn in front of me speeding with no lights or sirens as our light turned green,” they recalled. “They totaled my Maxima and he just kept going. They stranded me in the middle of the street with dozens of witnesses. It took them six years to pay up. End all qualified immunity!”