WASECA, Minn. (AP) — A judge has ruled the Minnesota Department of Transportation and its engineer have immunity from a lawsuit stemming from the death of a former Minnesota State University football player.

The Free Press of Mankato reports 25-year-old Fred Statz collided with a semi-truck at a Waseca intersection in November 2012. He was coming from a banquet at Waseca High School, where he coached football.

Just days before, MnDOT converted the intersection from a four-way to a two-way stop but did not notify drivers.

Statz's parents, Bill and Kathy, filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging the department was negligent. The transportation department argued it had discretion to place signage as it chooses.

Waseca County District Court Judge Larry Collins decided the engineer's decision was discretionary in nature and not made maliciously.

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