Polk Co. Man Plans To Plead Guilty In Crash That Killed 2
HILLSBORO, N.D. (AP) — A Minnesota man plans to plead guilty to vehicular homicide in the traffic deaths of two sisters in eastern North Dakota.
James Yahnke, of Nielsville, Minnesota, is accused of being drunk, driving 94 mph on a rough section of a Traill County road north of Hillsboro in May and losing control of the car.
Authorities say Yahnke and the two women were thrown from the vehicle. Twenty-three-year-old Mercedes Rowley, of Sharon, and 21-year-old Teja Beyer, of Red Lake Falls, Minnesota, died at the scene. Yahnke was hurt and flown to a Fargo hospital for treatment.
Defense attorney Joel Arnason tells KFGO-AM radio that lawyers are close to working out a deal. Prosecutor Stuart Larson declined to comment.
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