Man, 34, Charged In Fatal Crash After Traffic Stop

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 34-year-old St. Paul man has been charged with allegedly fleeing police after a traffic stop and crashing into another car, killing one of the occupants and seriously hurting another, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday.

Authorities said the crash happened just before 1 a.m. Monday on 4th Street SE and Central Avenue in downtown Minneapolis.

The State Patrol said a trooper initiated a traffic stop on a white 1997 Nissan Maxima for speeding and suspicion of drunk driving. After initially stopping, the driver waited until the trooper approached his vehicle before fleeing the scene through Minneapolis.

The trooper tried at least four times to use a pit maneuver to end the chase.

The suspected drunk driver, identified by authorities Her, crashed into a black 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue at 4th Street and Central Avenue after an approximately three-minute chase.

That vehicle's driver was killed in the crash. Authorities said Her suffered non-life threatening injuries.

According to Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, Her's blood alcohol content registered .16, which is twice the legal limit for driving. He was also driving on a suspended license because of several previous driving offenses, including a DWI.

The victim was identified by authorities as 20-year-old Brody A. Sotona of Spring Valley, Wis. His passenger was 24-year-old Connor Macklin of Stillwater. Macklin was listed in critical condition at Hennepin County Medical Center as of noon Monday.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Sheriff's Office announced that Her was charged with two felony counts of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle with injury or death.

Her remains in custody in the Hennepin County Jail on a $500,000 bail.

If convicted, he faces up to 47 years in prison.