Otter Tail County Deputy Charged in Fatal Fergus Falls Crash

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (KFGO) – An Otter Tail County deputy has been charged with misconduct by a public officer and driving under the influence in a high-speed pursuit that ended in a deadly crash in Fergus Falls last Oct.

Deputy Kelly Backman was in pursuit of a minivan driven by a man in a drug investigation when the van slammed into a car.

72-year-old Steve Christianson and his 71-year-old wife, Diane, both of Fergus Falls, were killed in the collision.

The complaint says Backman tested positive for an anti-anxiety medication that had been prescribed and also for fentanyl, a controlled narcotic.

Detroit Lakes , MN (KDLM)-

Add you story text here. To edit the image click on it-select the edit button, then click “replace” under the image. Choose your new image and be sure you have align-left selected. To add/edit the image sourcing when you are in the image edit the text in the caption field.