Man Gets 10 Years In Stearns County Fatal Crash
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 44-year-old Illinois man was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Wednesday in connection with the Aug. 16, 2009 crash that killed a 19-year-old man in Stearns County.
Eugene Edward Rivetts was charged with criminal vehicular homicide shortly after the crash. He pleaded guilty on Aug. 31, 2009.
According to court records, Rivetts was driving a Hummer at a high rate of speed on Country Road 17 in Stearns County on Aug. 16, 2009, when it hit a 1990 Toyota Corolla being driven by Ryan Dezurik. Rivetts initially told authorities he was a passenger in the car during the accident, but later admitted to police that he was driving the Hummer after evidence linked him to being behind the wheel.
Rivetts was convicted on two counts of criminal vehicular homicide on March 16. Rivetts admitted that he had been drinking throughout the day, but his blood alcohol level was never measured because Rivetts said he wasn't driving.
Rivetts also had a history of DWI and was convicted of criminal vehicular homicide in 1989.
