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Man Charged In Fatal Hit-And-Run In Elko New Market

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Farmington man faces several criminal vehicular homicide charges in the weekend hit-and-run in Elko New Market that left a pedestrian dead.

Matthew Keely Hartley, 33, is charged with driving under the influence, driving his motorcycle in a grossly negligent manner and leaving the scene of the crash, court documents filed in Scott County show.

According to a criminal complaint, officers responded shortly after bar close early Sunday morning to a crash involving an injured woman on Main Street.

Witnesses said that two motorcycles were racing down Main Street, on both sides of the road, when one of them hit the pedestrian, sending her flying 20 to 30 feet.

Both motorcycles drove off, witnesses said. The victim, 24-year-old Mollie Mahowald, died at the scene.

Investigators spoke with witnesses, who said the two motorcyclists appeared "hammered" that night, as they were playing loud music and doing burnouts in the street. They identified the motorcyclist involved in the crash as Matthew Hartley.

Later, one of Hartley's friends called police after hearing that the pedestrian had died. The friend said he helped Hartley get his motorcycle home that night.

When investigators went to Hartley's residence, they found his motorcycle under a canoe, covered in mud and damaged.

The criminal complaint says Hartley currently has a revoked driver's license and was convicted in July of a DWI. He also has another DWI charge pending.

If convicted of the criminal vehicular homicide charges, Hartley faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and/or a $60,000 fine.

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