Man Charged In Accident That Killed 2 Construction Workers
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 22-year-old Missouri man is accused of driving carelessly in the crash on 35W last October that killed two construction workers in Burnsville, according to charges filed Monday in Dakota County Court.
Kirk Edward Deamos was charged with one misdemeanor count of careless driving in connection with the Oct. 13, 2011, incident.
According to the complaint, Deamos was driving a 1998 Mitsubishi 3000 GT northbound on Interstate 35W near McAndrews Road in Burnsville at about 12:33 p.m. that day when he lost control of his vehicle. The vehicle veered off into the ditch and struck a pole before hitting and killing Craig Carlson and Ron Rajkowski. Carlson was pronounced dead at the scene, and Rajkowksi died of injuries at Hennepin County Medical Center.
Deamos told authorities with the Minnesota State Patrol that he had purchased the vehicle three days before the accident. He had left his home in Missouri at 4 a.m. on Oct. 13 to visit his girlfriend who was a student at the College of St. Benedict, the complaint states.
Police records show that Deamos was stopped in Iowa the day of the accident and cited for traveling 85 miles per hour in a zone where the speed limit is 70.
According to the complaint, a preliminary breath test showed no presence of alcohol in Deamos's system at the time of the accident. An investigation of the crash also showed road conditions were not a factor and his cell phone was not being used at the time of the accident. He also was not speeding at the time of the accident and was attempting to disengage the cruise control on the car when he lost control.
If convicted, Deamos faces up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
