By: Megan Gosch
A drunk driver drove through the wall of a Stillwater nursing home early Sunday morning, injuring a resident.
Brian Willingham, 31, later identified by KMSP-TV as the driver, allegedly stole his girlfriend's SUV, hit two parked cars, then drove into the Golden LivingCenter, striking a resident in his bed.
Willingham was reportedly driving without a driver's license which had been revoked due to previous DWI's, reported the Pioneer Press.
Willingham drove straight through the wall of Eugene Lehmicke's room at the Golden LivingCenter, throwing him from his bed. Lehmicke was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released with a bruised arm, reported CBS Minnesota.
Willingham did not report any injuries, police said.
Recently in Local News Category
By: Megan Gosch
A demonstration that went wrong and injured four students in a Maple Grove middle school earlier this month, has begun discussion and investigation of standard classroom science lab procedures.
During a "whoosh bottle" demonstration, a Maple Grove middle school science teacher lit a small amount of methanol into a five-gallon plastic jug, which caused a larger flame than expected and injured four students in the class, reported KSTP.
Since the accident, the teacher involved has been put on leave and the incident remains under investigation, causing questions concerning the lack of official regulations used in most science class labs.
Demonstrations such as the "whoosh bottle" experiment often cause lab accidents, according to a national database of lab accidents, reported the Star Tribune.
The National Science Teachers Association discourages the use methanol for the "whoosh bottle" experiment but according to the Minnesota Department of Education, there are no state codes for science lab demonstrations.
With little official oversight of class experiments, the guidelines of the NSTA are not enforced or monitored, and can lead to accidents such as Maple Grove's.
By: Megan Gosch
With a steady snowfall Saturday afternoon, there were at least 189 car crashes and one vehicle-related death, authorities said.
The snow, which began falling Saturday afternoon and continued on through early Sunday morning, played a significant role in the crashes, 103 of which occurred in the metro area, reported the Star Tribune.
At least 11 injuries resulted from these crashes, according to the State Patrol.
Michael Giguere, 63, of Pine City was fatally struck around 8:00 p.m. Saturday night as he was crossing Highway 48. At the time of the accident, the roads were wet with snow, the patrol said, reported by the Pioneer Press.
The numbers presented by the patrol were collected from incidents begginning at 4:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon until 8:00 a.m. Sunday morning.
By: Megan Gosch
A body that matches the description of a missing Ham Lake man was discovered Saturday morning, according to authorities.
Jeffrey Jacobus, 57, has been missing since Oct. 11. He was last seen leaving his home on that day, reported KSTP.
A search party resumed Saturday morning to find Jacobus, and recovered a body wearing clothing that matched the description of the clothes Jacobus was last seen in, according to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, reported the Pioneer Press.
Authorities have not disclosed the location of the body's recovery, and the identity of the body has yet to be confirmed by a medical examiner.
By: Megan Gosch
A Culver woman survived a crash with an approaching train when her truck stalled as she crossed the tracks Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
The 51-year-old woman was trying to cross the tracks near Brookston in her truck stalled over the crossing, said the St. Louis County sheriff, reported by the Star Tribune.
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe train was approaching the crossing at about 40 miles per hour at the time that the woman's truck stalled in the intersection, reported the Pioneer Press.
Upon impact to the rear passenger side of the truck, it was pushed into a ditch.
The woman was taken to a local hospital without critical injuries.
By: Megan Gosch
A Shakopee man was killed when he collided with a pickup truck while driving the wrong direction Friday night, injuring three others.
Martin Ballines Rios, 40, struck the truck while driving south in the northbound lane of Audobon Road at Wildflower Lane around 7:30 p.m, reported the Star Tribune.
The passengers of the truck were identified by the Chaska Police Department as Jason P. Bren, 19, Zachery J. Utecht, 19, and Mallary L. Whittaker, 20, of Chaska. They were taken to Ridgeview Hospital and released without critical injuries, reported the Pioneer Press.
The Minnesota State Patrol confirmed that Ballines Rios died at the scene of the crash and that alcohol was detected in his system.
By: Megan Gosch
The Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis was the location of 17 intentional fires that were discovered Friday night, according to Minneapolis police.
Within a 13-block area, 17 fires were intentionally started, the first of which was reported as early as 8:30 p.m., according to police. The fires destroyed bags of leaves as well as two garages and three vehicles, reported the Pioneer Press.
Most of the fires, which were lit near the West River Parkway, appear to have been started with bags of raked leaves. At least 10 fires were started with leaf piles and garbage, reported the Star Tribune.
Although police have questioned several people from the area, no one has been arrested in relation to the fires. Sgt. Bill Palmer of the Minneapolis Police Department has not identified a possible motive behind the string of fires.
Authorities have advised that citizens avoid putting garbage bags on the street until the morning of garbage collection to potentially avoid another arson spree.
By: Megan Gosch
A man was found shot and killed in south Minneapolis Saturday night, after reports of an argument were received by Minneapolis police.
The body of the victim was found around 10:15 p.m. near the intersection of 44th Street East and 33rd Avenue S by police, reported the Star Tribune.
Police reported several 911 calls concerning the sound of an argument in the street and the sound of several gunshots before the man was found.
A man and his girlfriend heard 5 gunshots and ran outside, where they found the man with gunshot wounds in the chest and face. The woman proceeded to give the victim CPR, but he died in her arms as she tried to resuscitate him, reported KSTP.
Homicide officers are investigating the shooting but have made no arrests in relation to the case, said Sgt. William Palmer.
By: Megan Gosch
A local poll suggests that Minnesotans would rather use new forms of gambling to fund a new Vikings stadium than implement a tax increase.
The Star Tribune Minnesota Poll found that public support for stadium funding favored the use of lottery scratch-off games and electronic pulltabs in bars, reported the Star Tribune. A total of 807 Minnesotan adults were polled, with 56 percent opposed to the use of public money for stadium finances.
Governor Mark Dayton has met with other lawmakers to discuss the proposed construction of a new Vikings stadium, reported Kare 11. They have agreed that state money should not be used to fund the potential stadium.
Morrie Lanning, of the House of Representatives, is in favor of gambling as a potential source of funds. "It seems to me that the only way we're going to be able to get the support we need for a facility like this, and get the revenue we need, is through gaming being some part of it," said Lanning.
While gambling is one of several alternatives for funding of a new stadium, other factors, such as a location for the proposed stadium, must be decided first.
By: Megan Gosch
The death of a Minneapolis found Saturday in a crashed vehicle with apparant gunshot wounds is currently under investigation, according to Minneapolis police.
Police found a crashed car at 43rd and Girard avenues north around 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon after receiving 911 calls reporting the sound of gunshots and the scene of a car crash. Inside the car was a man who appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound, reported the Pioneer Press.
The man was taken to North Memorial Medical Center where he later died. The identity of the man has yet to be released, reported the Star Tribune.
It is unclear whether the man was shot while driving his car, causing him to crash, or whether he had been shot outside the car and was fleeing for safety or to possibly retrieve medical help, said police.
No suspects were in custody Saturday in relation to the incident.
Police are requesting help from anyone with possible information about the incident, to contact a local tips line.
