Driver Runs Over Campsites In Minnesota State Park

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A car sped through a campground running over several campsites in a Minnesota State Park early Monday morning.

According to a statement from the Pine County Sheriff's Office, authorities received several 911 calls at around 2 a.m. Monday morning that an SUV was driving through campsites at St. Croix State Park. Callers said the male driver fled on foot into the woods with a small child.

When deputies arrived on scene, they found the SUV smashed into a tree in the campground. A witness pointed deputies in the direction the driver had fled. Authorities later found the child reported to be with the suspect with her mother, safe.

After going in the direction they had been pointed, deputies found a man -- later identified as 38-year-old Lonnie Jones -- lying in the brush. The deputy who found Jones said he was unstable on his feet, slurred his speech and emitted a strong alcoholic odor.

Once the deputy got Jones out of the brush, Jones held his hands up and said, "Arrest me, I messed up," according to the criminal complaint. As EMTs examined Jones, he declined to take a breath test.

Jones previously lost his license due to impaired driving in 2011 and has two prior DWIs.

Several campsites were damaged in the incident, as the car ran over multiple tents, though no one was hurt. Authorities said a storm likely saved lives, as many campers who would've been in their tents had taken refuge in their cars.

Investigators said the incident started during a domestic dispute at one of the campsites, and Jones took the child and fled. He is being held in Pine County Jail on DWI and traffic collision charges. Pine County Attorney Reese Frederickson said charges will likely be amended as they receive additional reports from the sheriff's office.