Teen Pleads To Lesser Charge In Minn. Triple Fatal

WINONA, Minn. (AP) -- A Lewiston teenager has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in a crash that killed three classmates and seriously injured a fourth in southeast Minnesota last year.

Winona County Attorney Karin Sonneman says the 18-year-old pleaded guilty to careless driving Thursday.

Sonneman says the charge was added as part of a plea agreement. The teen, who was 17 at the time of the crash, was facing charges of criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation.

KAGE Radio reports Judge Jeffrey Thompson set sentencing for May 12.

Investigators had concluded the defendant and the other driver, 16-year-old Shauna Marie Ruhoff, were racing their pickups on April 23, 2010, when Ruhoff lost control and crashed. She was killed along with two other teens from Lewiston-Altura High School. A fourth girl was hurt.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)