Woman Charged With Careless Driving In Dakota County Fatal Crash
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 64-year-old woman is accused of careless driving in crash last October that killed one person in rural Dakota County, according to court charges filed on Tuesday.
Vicki Lee Geisler of Lake City was charged with one misdemeanor count of careless driving in connection with the Oct. 5, 2011, crash.
According to a criminal complaint, authorities in Dakota County were called to a report of a two-vehicle crash at about 12:57 p.m. at the intersection of Northfield Boulevard and 240th Street in Hampton Township. When authorities arrived, both vehicles were in the ditch and a red Toyota Corolla was on its side.
A woman trapped inside that vehicle was unconscious at the scene and had to be airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul. Geisler, who was not seriously injured in the crash, was driving a grey Ford Ranger that hit the other car, the complaint states.
Geisler told police she was driving from Lake City to Burnsville and became disoriented as to where she was. Geisler said she had missed a turn on Highway 52 and was turning around to go the other direction on the highway. According to the complaint, the victim was traveling northbound on Northfield Boulevard and Geisler was headed westbound on 240th Street when she didn't stop at a stop sign and hit the passenger side of the victim's vehicle.
According to the complaint, the victim in the crash died more than three months later on Jan. 24, 2012 from traumatic brain injuries suffered in the crash.
Investigators determined alcohol was not a factor in the crash, nor was the use of a cell phone. Geisler was driving carelessly and did not stop for a stop sign, leading to the victim's death.
If convicted, Geisler faces up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
