The driver in a northern Minnesota rollover crash that killed a passenger was drunk and remains in jail pending a felony charge, authorities said.
Patrol: Driver in fatal Itasca County crash was drunk, is jailed
The rollover pitched an unbelted passenger from the vehicle, according to authorities.
March 20, 2016 at 3:55PM
The wreck occurred late Thursday, St. Patrick's Day, on Hwy. 65 near Goodland in Itasca County, according to the State Patrol.
Killed was Mark A. Wirtjes, of nearby Bovey, the patrol said. Wirtjes was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the vehicle, the patrol added.
Christopher G. Smith, 29, of Bemidji, was driving when the vehicle rolled over nearly twice and ended up in a ditch. The patrol said it detected alcohol use by Smith, who was suffered noncritical injuries.
He's currently in the county jail awaiting charges on suspicion of criminal vehicular homicide and drunken driving.
Also injured was another passenger, Michael P. Vail, 32, of Cass Lake, Minn.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
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