Category Archives: Minnesota

Minneapolis biker killed in hit-and-run. DUI suspected | kstp.com

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Juan Ricardo Hernandez-Campoceco (web sources)

A 28-year-old biker died early Saturday morning in a hit-and-run. It happened near the intersection of Lake Street East and Cedar Avenue South in Minneapolis around 2:15. Late Saturday the victim was identified as Elyse Mary Stern of Minneapolis.

Witnesses said Stern was riding her bike eastbound on Lake when she was struck by a green Monte Carlo traveling westbound. Police say there is no indication the driver made any attempt to stop. Police say Stern died almost instantly. “She was not even treated by the paramedics,” said Sgt. William Palmer, a public information officer for the Minneapolis Police Department.

Minutes later and just blocks away, police found 27-year-old Juan Ricardo Hernandez-Campoceco of Minneapolis. They say two men were with him in the car. “It had very heavy damage,” Palmer said.

Minnesota man charged with 6 counts of vehicular homicide for crash killing 2 a year ago | TwinCities.com

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An Elkton man is charged with driving drunk at about 120 mph when he crashed a Cadillac and killed two friends near Austin a year ago.

Forty-four-year-old Jason Fredrickson was charged Tuesday in Mower County with six felony counts of criminal vehicular homicide.

According to the complaint, Fredrickson drove a 2009 Cadillac STS into a ditch Feb. 25 while Jake Moe and Luke Unverzagt, both 32 and from Austin, were passengers. Both Unverzagt and Moe were thrown from the car and died. Fredrickson broke his ankle.

A State Patrol reconstruction says the car went airborne, snapped a utility pole and stopped after hitting a tree and another pole. Sheriff Terese Amazi says the car was “obliterated.”

The Austin Daily Herald reports Fredrickson is due in court March 21.

via Minnesota: Driver charged with 120-mph DWI crash that killed 2 near Austin – TwinCities.com.

Coon Rapids, MN: Wrong-way driver on Coon Rapids highway dies in head-on wreck | StarTribune.com

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A pickup truck driver halted while going the wrong way on a Coon Rapids highway, then was struck by another pickup coming the other way and killed in a head-on crash, authorities said Friday.

The wreck occurred shortly after 11:30 p.m. Thursday in the westbound lanes of Hwy. 10 near Foley Boulevard in Coon Rapids, according to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.

Killed was Tyler R. Trelford, 30, of East Bethel, who was driving east in the westbound lanes, the State Patrol said.

Trelford was not wearing his seat belt, and alcohol use by him has yet to be determined, the patrol added.

Numerous witnesses alerted Coon Rapids police of the vehicle heading the wrong way starting at Hwy. 10 near Hanson Boulevard, the Sheriff’s Office said. That’s about 3 miles west of where the crash occurred in the center lane, where the wrong-way pickup had stopped.

The other motorist, Edward A. Jelinek, 62, of Andover, was treated at the scene for minor injuries. He was wearing his seat belt, the patrol said.

A preliminary breath test showed that Jelinek had been drinking, but his blood-alcohol level “was below the legal limit” of 0.08 percent, said Patrol Lt. Eric Roeske.

“It does not appear impairment on his part is a factor” in the crash, Roeske added. “However, it cannot be ruled out completely until the investigation is finished.”

Jelinek said Friday he was driving along in the center lane with vehicles on either side of him and in front, when “all of a sudden they’re all swerving.”

When the car in front of Jelinek veered out of the way, Trelford’s pickup was sitting there.

“I was able to swerve a hair, but there was no reaction time,” Jelinek said. “He was just there. This whole thing happened in a 10th of a second.”

Jelinek said he’s grateful for his airbag, having his seat belt on and being in a big pickup.

“If I had been in a small vehicle, they probably would’ve buried me too,” he said.

via Wrong-way driver on Coon Rapids highway dies in head-on wreck | StarTribune.com.

We had previously posted a version of this story from KMSP which contained some incorrect information.  Upon noticing discrepancies at other sites, we took down the original story.  We regret and apologize for any misinformation that was spread.

Minneapolis: Gophers basketball makes bid to lead B1G in DUIs | StarTribune.com

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Saul Smith

Gophers assistant coach Saul Smith was placed on indefinite unpaid administrative leave on Sunday after a Saturday arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Smith, who is head coach Tubby Smith’s son, is a first-time offender, the U of M said in a press release. He was arrested early Saturday morning after leaving a restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. Smith was booked at 3:59 a.m. and released about four hours later, according to police reports.

“While we do not want to rush to judgment before the legal process proceeds, Coach Tubby Smith and I are taking this matter seriously,” Gophers athletic director Norwood Teague said in a statement. “University of Minnesota values dictate that our coaches and staff be positive role models for our student-athletes. As such, we are taking disciplinary measures while the legal system takes its course.”

Smith is heading into his sixth year as an assistant coach after Tubby hired him after taking the Minnesota job. He oversees Minnesota’s guard development and ball handling improvement.

The announcement comes two days after standout player Trevor Mbakwe’s probation violation hearing, which was triggered by a DUI in July.

via Gophers assistant Saul Smith on leave after DWI arrest | StarTribune.com.

Automba Township, MN: 3 children on ATV hospitalized after collision with suspected intoxicated semi driver | minnesota.cbslocal.com

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An intoxicated semi driver collided with an ATV carrying three children in northern Minnesota Friday, sending all three to the hospital, authorities say.

The Carlton County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to the incident at around 4 p.m. When the officers arrived at the scene, located on County Road 6 near Automba Township, they found the children, ages 14, 10 and 9, all of which suffered injuries. An ambulance brought all three to Mercy Hospital for treatment. Their conditions are not known.

Officers arrested the semi’s driver, 69-year-old Donald Clark Jr., of Cromwell, for driving under the influence. Alcohol appeared to be a contributing factor in the collision, the sheriff’s office said. Clark is currently in Carlton County Jail, pending formal charges. He suffered no injuries.

The sheriff’s office and the State Patrol are investigating the incident.

via Police: Intoxicated Semi Driver Sends 3 Children To Hospital « CBS Minnesota.

Duluth, MN: State trooper arrested. Reportedly tested .08 at training | startribune.com

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Trooper Nick Morse, of Two Harbors, has been placed on leave pending the outcome of an investigation. Morse drove his squad car to the Minnesota State Patrol district office in Duluth, arriving at 8:10 a.m., when a supervisor there noticed the alcohol odor, according to a Department of Public Safety press release. A State Patrol lieutenant administered field sobriety tests, and Morse was taken to the St. Louis County jail. A breath test there registered an alcohol concentration of .08, the legal limit in Minnesota, the news release said.

Morse, a state trooper since 2009 who has neither disciplinary actions nor commendations in his file, was then booked into the St. Louis County Jail and issued a citation for 4th degree DUI.

via State trooper goes to training, gets arrested for DUI | StarTribune.com.

East Bethel, MN: Motorcycle rider and passenger dead. SUV driver arrested after showing signs of intoxication | TwinCities.com

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Paula Lynn Larson

Paula L. Larson, of Bethel, was charged in Anoka County District Court with two counts of criminal-vehicular homicide in the deaths of John A. Jordan, 48, of St. Francis, and Patricia L. Kalla, 46, of Big Lake, Minn. Larson remains jailed.

The accident took place on County Road 22 at Rendova Street at 9:40 p.m. Deputies arrived to find the motorcycle driver and passenger dead and the SUV driver showing signs of intoxication, the sheriff’s office said.

The driver, Paula Lynn Larson, 42, of Bethel, was arrested on suspicion of criminal vehicular homicide or operation of a motor vehicle under the influence. She was being held at the Anoka County Jail.

via East Bethel: 2 dead in crash; 1 arrested – TwinCities.com.

Moose Lake, MN: School Board Member Arrested for 3rd DWI | wdio.com

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The chairwoman of the Moose Lake School Board has been arrested and charged with DWI.

According to court records, Kristine Marie Lyons has two DWI convictions on her record from incidents in 2007 and 2009.

Law enforcement officials confirm that Lyons was arrested by the Minnesota State Patrol on Wednesday, August 15th, and booked at the Carlton County Jail.

She has been charged with two gross misdemeanor counts of DWI. She has a court appearance in September.

Lyons did not return requests for comment.

The Moose Lake interim superintendent said that this is a court issue, not a school issue.

via WDIO.com – School Board Member Arrested for DWI.

Dodge Co., MN: Bus Driver Charged with DUI shortly after dropping off kids | KAALtv.com

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Robert Mielke

With less than a month before school starts a bus driver is arrested and charged with driving under the influence.

We learned there were children onboard at the time, they were on their way to ZED summer school classes.

We learned those kids on the school bus were dropped off at the school prior to the arrest and were unharmed.

The bus driver — is 40-year-old Robert Mielke of Stewartville.

Authorities tell us a witness complained that Mielke was driving erratically on the road, and at one time almost hitting another vehicle.  When authorities received the report they stopped him and noticed alcohol on his breath.

Dodge County Sheriff Jim Jensen tells us Mielke’s blood alcohol level was point .07 which is under the legal limit in Minnesota.  However, Minnesota has a No Tolerance law for school buses and commercial vehicle drivers.

“A school bus cannot have any alcohol in their system when they are driving the school bus, there’s no legal limit for them its absolutely no alcohol in their system,” says Jensen.

We contacted the bus company, Engle Bus Services out of Stewartville, who told us they fired Miekle before hanging up on us.

We’re continuing to dig more into this story, and will bring you the latest tonight on ABC 6 NEWS at 10.

via KAALtv.com – Bus Driver Charged with DUI.

Pope Co., MN: Basketball coach at Southwest Minnesota State in critical condition after crash that killed son | washingtonpost.com

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Dana Schoen

Brad Bigler, the men’s basketball coach at Southwest Minnesota State University, was in critical condition Sunday after a two-vehicle crash in western Minnesota that killed his 5-month-old son and injured two other relatives.

Bigler, 33, was hospitalized in Sioux Falls, S.D., with several broken ribs and a broken shoulder blade, SMSU athletic director Chris Hmielewski said. Drake Phillip Bigler, the coach’s young son, was killed in the crash.

“Obviously it’s a tragedy when you lose a young family member,” Hmielewski told the Independent of Marshall. “The thoughts and prayers of the entire Mustang family and everybody should go out to the Bigler family as they cope with this situation.”

Bigler has been head coach of the SMSU men’s basketball program for three years. The Mustangs finished 19-11 last season, winning the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament championship and making their third-ever appearance in the Division II tournament.

Bigler’s wife, Heather Bigler, was driving in Pope County on Saturday evening when a truck driven by Dana Schoen, 38, of Starbuck, crossed the center line and struck her vehicle, the Minnesota State Patrol said.

All four people in Bigler’s vehicle were hurt. Heather Bigler suffered minor injuries, and her 74-year-old grandmother, Sharon Schuler of Granite Falls, was left in critical condition, authorities said.

The State Patrol said alcohol was detected in the Schoen’s system, and is suspected as a factor in the crash.

State records show that Schoen had been convicted of gross misdemeanor drunken driving in 2005 and for driving under the influence in 2000, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. In both cases, the man’s blood-alcohol content was greater than 0.20, or 2½ times the legal limit in Minnesota.

read more here >  Basketball coach at Southwest Minn. State in critical condition after crash that killed son – The Washington Post.

Crookston, MN: Man sentenced After DWI Crash Killed Nurse | piercecountyherald.com

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A 21-year-old Grand Forks man gave a tear-filled apology before being sentenced to four years in prison — following a deadly drunk driving crash in Polk County last February.

Daniel Johnson’s blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit when his pickup was slammed into by a vehicle driven by 39-year old Darcey Jablonski. A combination of heavy fog and alcohol were factors in the crash on Highway 2, just west of Fisher in the eastbound lane. The State Patrol says Johnson was parked on the highway, facing the wrong direction with no lights on, when the victim slammed into him head-on at nearly full speed. Jablonski’s boyfriend, a paramedic, was one of the first to arrive at the horrific scene on Highway-2 near Fisher.

via Minnesota News Briefs: Man Sentenced After DWI Crash Killed Nurse | Pierce County Herald | Ellsworth, Wisconsin.

Minneapolis, MN: Airport grounds crew worker drunk on duty. Charged w/DUI after failing to yield to jet | KSTP TV – Minneapolis and St. Paul

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A ground worker at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has been arrested for allegedly driving drunk on the tarmac.

Fifty-four-year-old John Joseph Korab, of Inver Grove Heights, is charged with four counts including drunken driving and use of alcohol while operating a vehicle in the airport’s operations area.

The police report says Korab was driving a truck for the ground services company Servisair when he failed to yield to an AirTran jet that was being pushed back from the gate Thursday night. It says his blood alcohol level was 0.21 percent, more than double Minnesota’s legal limit for driving.

Korab did not immediately return a phone call Monday seeking comment. A man at Servisair who gave his name only as Kevin says Korab no longer works there.

via Worker Charged With Driving Drunk at Airport | KSTP TV – Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Breezy Point, MN: Man arrested for DWI, violating probation from 2006 Vehicular Homicide death of a passenger-friend | BrainerdDispatch.com

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Mark Martin Bundgaard

A 34-year-old Breezy Point man who served a year in jail for a criminal vehicular homicide following a crash in which his passenger died was arrested Saturday in Breezy Point for first-degree driving while impaired (DWI).

On May 18, 2005, Mark Martin Bundgaard and his friend and roommate, Kenneth Foster, 40, of Crosslake, were driving eastbound in Bundgaard’s car on Crow Wing County Road 125 when Bundgaard failed to stop at the county road’s intersection with Highway 371. His car collided broadside with a southbound pickup. Foster suffered a serious skull fracture in the collision and was transported to St. Cloud Hospital, where on May 19, 2005, he died. A blood sample taken from Bundgaard following the collision showed an alcohol concentration of .24 percent, which was more than twice the legal limit at the time.

Bundgaard was arraigned Tuesday for violating the conditions of his probation on the 2005 charge. He was arrested at 12:50 a.m. Saturday near Crow Wing County Roads 11 and 4 by Breezy Point police.

read more here > Man arrested for DWI, violating his probation from the 2006 death of a friend | BrainerdDispatch.com | Brainerd, Minnesota.

Duluth, MN: County Attorney for Carlton County Booked for Alleged DWI | wdio.com

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Before …

Carlton County Attorney Thom Pertler was booked into the St. Louis County Jail Tuesday afternoon after an alleged drunken-driving incident.

A St. Louis County Jail Administrator said Pertler was brought into the jail between 2 and 2:30 p.m. and was being booked for alleged fourth-degree DWI, which is a misdemeanor, and alleged third-degree refusal, which is a gross misdemeanor.

image

… and after

The Minnesota State Patrol said it will soon release more information about Tuesday’s incident.

Pertler has been involved in a number of high-profile cases, including the Donald Blom trial and the 2011 Cromwell homicides.

In addition to being the Carlton County Attorney, Pertler taught at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College for twelve years. He resigned in March after showing up to class intoxicated. At the time, Pertler declined comment to Eyewitness News but told the Duluth News Tribune that he shared two pitchers of beer with a friend before he drove to night class that evening. He also said that he was embarrassed and unable to communicate with students that night.

The Carlton County Attorney’s Office did not have an immediate comment on Tuesday’s incident.

via WDIO.com – Carlton Co. Attorney Booked for Alleged DWI.

Douglas Co., MN: 5th DUI earns 60-year-old 6 months in jail, 3 years probation | superiortelegram.com

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A Barnes man will spend three years on probation and 180 days in jail for his fifth drunk driving incident.

Edward M. Coulombe, 60, pleaded guilty to one count count of operating while intoxicated-fifth or sixth offense earlier this month.

He was sentenced in Douglas County Circuit Court to three years of probation with conditions including 180 days jail and a 36-month driver’s license revocation. He must also undergo a chemical dependency evaluation, install an ignition interlock device and pay $1,604 in fines.

A Douglas County Sheriff’s Department deputy saw a vehicle turn south into the northbound lane of U.S. Highway 53 at 1:46 a.m. Feb. 18. The deputy stopped the vehicle, which was being driven by Coulombe. The Barnes man told the deputy he had consumed a 12-pack of beer that night and admitted he was under the influence. When the deputy told him he had been stopped for going the wrong way on the highway, Coulombe gave him a blank look. The complaint lists four previous intoxicated driving convictions between 1991 and 2000.

via Barnes man gets jail, probation for driving drunk | Superior Telegram | Superior, Wisconsin.