LITCHFIELD - A St. Cloud man was charged this week in Meeker County District Court in connection with a 2017 head-on collision that caused life-threatening injuries to an Eden Valley man.
Milton David Ortiz Arocho, 38, is charged with two felony counts of criminal vehicular operation - great bodily harm and two misdemeanor driving-related charges in connection with the Feb. 13 accident near Eden Valley.
According to State Patrol records, Ortiz was the driver of a 2000 BMW that collided with a 2014 Toyota, driven by Patrick Paul Ampe, who was 49 at the time of the crash.
Ampe was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis with life-threatening injuries, including multiple organ lacerations, a perforated colon, a fractured femur and multiple fractures of the face, head and neck.
According to the complaint filed against him, Ortiz was allegedly under the influence of methadone, a controlled substance, at the time of the crash.
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The complaint alleges that he crossed the centerline and collided with the other vehicle.
Ortiz, who is free on $30,000 bail, made a first court appearance Tuesday.
A pretrial hearing is scheduled for March 13.
