Minnesota Woman Charged in Fatal Head-On Crash
A woman from Minnesota is facing serious charges after a head-on collision that resulted in the death of an 82-year-old woman. Shauna Rae Dokken, 43, has been charged with vehicular homicide due to gross negligence, according to court documents.
The incident occurred on June 27 along Minnesota Highway 11, claiming the life of Barbara Lee Wellberg. Witnesses reported seeing Dokken driving recklessly before the accident, with one individual calling 911 while attempting to follow her pickup truck as it veered into oncoming traffic.
Authorities allege that Dokken’s Ford F-250 crossed the center line, colliding directly with Wellberg’s Kia Sorento. Unfortunately, Wellberg was pronounced dead at the scene. Meanwhile, Dokken sustained injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.
Dokken provided various explanations for her actions leading to the crash. She claimed that her dog interfered by grabbing the steering wheel just before the accident. However, officers noted that she showed signs of slurred speech when they arrived.
In an interesting twist, Dokken mentioned to investigators that she had taken prescription medications that day, including Bath Pearl, Lorazepam, and Adderall, but she denied consuming any alcohol. A preliminary breath test indicated a 0.00 reading.
The investigation remains open as authorities have collected blood samples for analysis, sending them to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Depending on the results, prosecutors have indicated that they might file additional charges.
Dokkan’s girlfriend also reported that she had previously misused prescription medication, adding another layer to the case. The allegations put forth in the complaint are yet to be proven in court.
Dokken remains in custody following a detention order issued by Roseau County District Judge Tamara Yong. As of now, it’s unclear whether she will continue to be represented by a public defender or seek private legal counsel. The Roseau County Attorney’s Office confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, awaiting lab results that may impact the course of action.
