North Branch Woman Charged In 11-Year-Old Pedestrian's Death
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 46-year-old North Branch woman is facing one felony count of criminal vehicular homicide in connection to the Aug. 21, 2014 death of an 11-year-old pedestrian.
The Chisago County Attorney's Office announced the charge Tuesday.
On Aug. 21 at 10:12 p.m., police officers were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian on Fill Avenue near 375th Street. When officers arrived, they found the boy unresponsive.
Police say the boy was walking with his father along the roadway when 46-year-old Noelle Strohecker drifted across the roadway and struck the child.
The victim, identified as Dallas Kasper of North Branch, was taken by ambulance to Fairview Lakes Wyoming Medical Center and then airlifted to Regions Hospital.
On Aug. 23, Kasper died from his injuries.
After the incident, police talked with Strohecker. She said she was driving northbound when she noticed the two pedestrians walking against traffic. Then, she said she thought she dropped her lighter and bent over to pick it up. When she sat back up, she said the child was right in front of her car and she could not avoid hitting him.
If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison and/or $20,000 fine.