Woman charged in fatal July hit-and-run near Hibbing
NASHWAUK, Minn. — A woman in her 60s has been charged with fatally striking a person with her car back in July near Hibbing, according to documents filed Tuesday in Itasca County.
Charges say on the night of July 3, a man was driving along Highway 169 near Nashwauk when he had to swerve to avoid a person lying on the road. He pulled his car over and called 911. While on the phone, a second driver ran over the person.
The driver of the second car also stopped and both drivers waited at the scene until officials could arrive, according to court documents.
Officers found blood spots and hairs on the second driver's car but then determined a different vehicle initially struck the person.
Court documents state early in the morning of July 4, a woman called police and reported that she may have been involved in the accident near Nashwauk. The woman said she spent the day walking in the Aurora and Gilbert parades before going to dinner at the Sawmill Saloon in Mountain Iron.
Surveillance video from the Sawmill Saloon allegedly shows she did not consume alcohol. She then left and was driving home when she struck something she believed to be an owl or turkey. She said she did not stop and continued home, according to court documents.
The charges state that the victim was at the Nashwauk Street Dance where he got into an argument with a former romantic partner. The victim then left the street dance and started walking home.
The charges say a witness called 911 on the night of July 3 to report a person wearing dark clothing walking in the middle of the left lane on Hwy. 169. The witness said the person was hard to see and that they nearly hit him.
The Minnesota State Patrol inspected the woman's car and found a broken headlight, a corner of the hood pushed inward and damage to the windshield. They also found a small piece of fabric on the hood that matched the sweatshirt worn by the victim.
The woman has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide. She is expected to make her first court appearance in late December.
Nashwauk is about 13 miles southwest of Hibbing.
