A woman in Roseau, Minnesota, is accused of killing an 82-year-old following a head-on crash. Records show, however, that the woman blamed her dog, saying it distracted her and grabbed the steering wheel.
As reported by WSMV, the incident occurred on Friday, May 29. During an afternoon, according to a criminal complaint cited by the outlet, 43-year-old Shauna Rae Dokken was driving her Ford-259 on Minnesota Highway 11.
Allegedly, Dokken’s vehicle crossed the center line and hit a Kia Sorento. Behind the Kia’s wheel was 82-year-old Barbara Lee Welberg.
First responders arrived at the scene and transported Dokken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Meanwhile, Welberg was pronounced dead at the scene. Her car had overturned.
Witnesses Recount Incident
As reported by The Minnesota Star Tribune, a responding deputy interviewed multiple witnesses at the scene. Many told the law enforcement agent that they saw Dokken driving recklessly, the complaint said.
Furthermore, witnesses alleged that Dokken was driving on the wrong side of the highway. According to the document, that is when the head-on crash occurred.
One particular witness even told the deputy that he was forced to veer onto the shoulder to avoid a crash. The complaint read, “The witness said […] it felt as if the driver was intentionally tracking his movements and trying to hit him.”
Alleged Dog Excuse
Eventually, Dokken was interviewed at the hospital, with investigators asking her what happened. The document noted that Dokken was slurring her speech at the time.
The 43-year-old woman told investigators that she had taken multiple prescribed medications, including Buspar, lorazepam, and Adderall. A preliminary breathalyzer test showed a result of .000.
Regarding the crash itself, Dokken allegedly told investigators that her dog had distracted her while driving. The complaint added that she claimed that the animal had “twisted the steering wheel and caused the vehicle to spin out of control.”
Facing Decade in Prison
Shauna Rae Dokken was arrested and is charged with criminal vehicular homicide – operating a motor vehicle in a grossly negligent manner. If convicted of this felony charge, she could spend up to 10 years behind bars and be ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.
The complaint alleged that Dokken’s partner had informed investigators that instead of taking her medications as prescribed, she was snorting them. Furthermore, records show that she has previous convictions for driving under the influence, driving with a revoked license, speeding, careless driving, and a stop sign violation.
A blood sample was collected from Dokken. The results are still pending.