Man Charged With Homicide In Coon Rapids Crash
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The driver in a fatal car accident that took place in Coon Rapids on Wednesday has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide, according to the Anoka County Attorney's Office.
Samuel Maser, 29, crashed his vehicle into an unoccupied vehicle on the shoulder of Highway 10 early Wednesday morning. His passenger, Ashley Novak, was killed at the scene. Maser was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Maser admitted he was drinking to police at the scene, and a breath test showed he had a .165 percent blood alcohol level. He remains in the Anoka County jail on $100,000 bail. His court date is scheduled for April 6.
Ashley Novak's father, Scott, and two sisters, Nicole and Sarah, told WCCO the couple had been in a relationship for 10 years and had two children together.
On Friday afternoon from their home in Annandale, the Novaks urged others to avoid making the choice to drink and drive. They're trying to hold on to happy memories while they grieve.
"It hits you on and off," Scott Novak said, "You can be good and then 20 minutes later you just start crying."
Ashley Novak's father and sisters say the 30-year-old worked as a caregiver to people in need, but her life's passion was her children 6-year-old Tyler and 3-year-old Ava.
"She played with her kids, taught her kids, just had more love to give than anyone could ever imagine," Sarah Novak said.
After 10 years together and two children, the Novaks say Ashley and her boyfriend Sam Maser were going strong.
"He was a hard worker who tried to put food on the table," Sarah Novak said of Maser.
Maser's choice to drive drunk early Wednesday morning changed the course of all of their lives forever.
Maser hit a car parked along the shoulder of a Coon Rapids highway.
The crash killed Ashley Novak.
The Novaks are not harboring hatred toward Maser.
"I wasn't to see him and put my arms around him and tell him I forgive him," Scott Novak said. "He is going to have to deal with his own demons inside knowing what happened."
While there is strength in forgiveness, this family says it has no choice but to forgive Maser.
"We need to think about the kids, which is what's important," Sarah Novak said. "They can't lose both parents."
The Novaks hope drunk driving won't tear apart another family.
"Everybody says 'it won't happen to me' and I will be the first one to say I have done that," Scott Novak said, "And guess what now it's here in my family."
Sam Maser is in Anoka county jail now facing a criminal vehicular homicide charge.It carries up to a 10-year prison sentence. The couple's children are being cared for by Ashley's mother.
If you would like to help the Novak family, you can donate to their GoFundMe page.