Charges: Woman Was Speeding, Ran Red Light In Eagan Injury Crash

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 30-year-old Apple Valley woman is accused of negligent driving in a May crash that left another driver with broken vertebrae and injuries to her liver and spleen, according to charges filed Thursday in Dakota County Court.

Christina Marie Polk was charged with two counts of criminal vehicular operation, resulting in great bodily harm, in connection with the May 4 crash.

According to the charges, Authorities responded at about 7:40 a.m. on May 4 to a crash with injuries at the intersection of Diffley and Nicols Roads in Eagan. Officers responding were told a Ford Edge had "T-boned" another vehicle, a Mazda van.

The complaint states a female, identified as Polk and the driver of the Ford Edge, was sitting on a curb at the intersection. Medics at the scene were working to extract the driver of the van, who was transported to Regions Hospital with broken vertebrae in her neck, lacerations to her liver and spleen, a broken sternum, torn diaphragm and multiple contusions.

Officers spoke with three witnesses to the crash who all said they were on Diffley Road when Polk passed them at a high rate of speed. Polk's vehicle collided with the side of the van that was turning left at the intersection. Witnesses told police they believe Polk ran a red light at the intersection.

Investigators accessed the computer in Polk's car, which showed she was traveling more than 90 miles per hour five seconds before the crash and about 75 miles per hour one second before the crash. The speed limit on Diffley Road in that area is 40 miles per hour.

The complaint states Polk told officers she was speeding at the time of the crash, but said she was only going 40 to 50 miles per hour. She also told officers she thought the light was green when she entered the intersection.

If convicted, Polk faces up to eight years in prison and $20,000 in fines.