Dassel man faces charges for drunk driving crash
DARWIN -- A 26-year-old Dassel man was arrested for driving while impaired, and allegedly had a 0.278 blood alcohol content, after a two-vehicle crash around 5:15 p.m. Sunday southeast of Darwin.
According to a news release from Meeker County Sheriff Jeff Norlin, Jesse Donald McWherter was driving a 1996 Ford F350 north in the southbound lane of 685th Avenue. As his vehicle came to the top of a hill, the truck struck a 1999 Ford Ranger driven by Patricia Garding, 48, of Darwin.
Garding was taken by ambulance to Meeker Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
McWherter was not injured and faces charges of second-degree driving while impaired and two felony charges of criminal vehicular operation.
A passenger in McWherter's vehicle, Shawn Paul Schroeder, 26, of Dassel, fled from the scene of the crash but was located a short time later and arrested by deputies for a probation violation. He suffered lacerations to the face and required stitches.
The accident is currently under investigation by the Meeker County Sheriff's Office.
Dassel Fire and Rescue and Gold Cross Ambulance also responded to the scene.
