Charges: Drunk Driver Caused New Year's Eve Crash
SOUTH ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – A 28-year-old South St. Paul man is accused of driving drunk on New Year's Eve and causing a crash that injured at least one person, according to charges filed Friday in Dakota County Court.
Nicholas Lee Evans was charged with two felony counts of criminal vehicular operation causing injury and two counts of fourth-degree driving while impaired in connection with the incident.
According to a criminal complaint, South St. Paul Police responded to the 600 block of North Concord Street at about 11:39 p.m. on a report of an injury accident. When authorities arrived, they found that a car had struck a parked semi-truck at the location and caused injuries. In looking at the vehicle involved, police discovered drug paraphernalia inside the car.
Authorities discovered that a female passenger in the car had suffered serious injuries and was trapped inside the car. She was in and out of consciousness and had a significant laceration on her forehead that went all the way to the bone, the complaint states. She was transported to a hospital and had several stitches to treat her injuries.
Evans admitted to driving the vehicle when it crashed. He told police he had four drinks and was driving southbound on Concord Street when, inexplicably, the car drifted off the shoulder and hit the semi-trailer with his car. He also admitted that the marijuana pipe in the car was his, but denied using it that night, according to the complaint.
Evans took a preliminary breath test and had a blood alcohol content of .194, more than twice the legal limit for driving.
If convicted on all offenses, Evans faces more than six years in prison and up to $22,000 in fines.
