Man Charged 2 Years After Crashing Into Apartment Building in Otter Tail County

Perham, MN – A Perham man made his first court appearance on Monday (November 3) for injuring a woman when he drove into her apartment building nearly two years ago.

Otter Tail County prosecutors say that on November 16, 2023, 32-year-old Courtney Tyler Hayes crashed into a mailbox, went into a ditch, hit the apartment driveway, and crashed into the apartment building. Investigators estimate the car was going well over the posted speed limit at the point of take-off.

A few days after the accident, investigators spoke with the victim. She said she had been doing a Bible study and was sitting with her back to the window, when her living room wall exploded. The victim said she was pushed across the room and hit her head on a hutch. Medical records for the victim reflect that she sustained a buckle fracture in two of her ribs, and sprained ligaments in her ankles.

Court documents say that Hayes admitted to a state trooper that he was texting while driving and that doing so caused the crash. Later in the investigation, however, a search warrant revealed no incoming or outgoing texts from Hayes’ phone.

Court documents say the sergeant looking over the case noted that in his experience, Hayes’ driving conduct was more consistent with an impairment-related loss-of consciousness, or in more rare cases, a medical emergency. A review of photos from the scene showed a can consistent with an electronic duster. Prosecutors say such electronic dusters are commonly known to be abused as an inhalant for huffing.

Hayes has been charged with criminal vehicular operation due to negligence while under the influence of a substance and criminal vehicular operation due to negligence.