Detroit Lakes man sentenced for Lakes Inn crash that killed 1 and injured another
Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – A Detroit Lakes man was sentenced to one year in jail and 15 years of probation for two counts of felony criminal vehicular homicide, and operation, while intoxicated.
The charges stemmed from the killing and maiming by vehicle of Jacklyn and Frank Benninger, both of Detroit Lakes, while they were resting in their Lakes Inn motel room, near West Lake Drive in May 2022
According to court records, 54-year-old Wade Alfred Olds of Detroit Lakes drove his black pickup truck off the roadway and into the corner room of motel with the couple inside, and then fled the scene in his vehicle.
Jacklyn Benninger suffered a severed spinal cord, a punctured lung and liver, numerous broken ribs and was confirmed as paralyzed from the waist down. She also required continuous medical treatment until she eventually died from her injuries in November.
Her husband, Frank, suffered multiple broken ribs, three broken vertebrae in his back and needed to have his spleen removed as a result of the crash.
Olds was found and arrested by Detroit Lakes police a short time after the crash while he was parked in his pickup on Rossman Avenue.
At the time of his arrest, he told the officer he believed he “blacked out” and apologized “if he hurt anyone.” His blood alcohol level was measured at .148%, nearly twice the legal limit.
On Sept. 1, Becker County District Court Judge Michael Fritz sentenced Olds to one year at the Becker County Jail and nearly six years of prison time stayed for 15 years while he is on probation. He also ordered Olds not be given any early discharge from the probation program, which will require 30 days of electronic and alcohol monitoring every year and 500 hours of community service with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Towards Zero Death Initiative.
He must also attend at Mothers Against Drunk Driving victim impact panel and not drive until permission is granted by his probation agent.
Becker County budget enters final stages; preliminary levy expected Sept. 19
Becker County Administrator Pat Oman updated members of the county board on the budget process during their meeting on Tuesday.
Oman said he expects to present a preliminary property tax levy during the board’s next meeting on Sept. 19.
“We spent about a month with department heads completing their preliminary budgets and that was a series of one-on-one meetings,” said Oman. “We are at the point that we are doing department head committee review over the last month … and we’ve got another two weeks before we set the preliminary levy. So this week and next week will be very important to solidify where our budget is at and where our increases are at and get on final review with our courthouse committee and finance committee.”
He also said it should come as no surprise the cost of wages and benefits have increased over the last year, but he’s hopeful the final numbers will come in lower, similar to last year.
“Obviously, one of the big things that is not a surprise is the increase in wages county-wide and that is a typical thing that every county is experiencing,” he said. “Benefits as well. We hope and expect that we’ll have a much more favorable review with benefits as well, but we are budgeting for a 3% increase. But we hope we are pleasantly surprised.”
Currently, the budget includes funds for an additional full-time, assistant county attorney for 2024. Becker County will also use some one-time funds from cash reserves to cover the cost of additional election workers to assist the auditor-treasurer for the 2024 election.
Barry Nelson, chair of the Becker County Board, said he hopes to keep the levy under a 5% increase for the upcoming year.
Moorhead man injured in single-vehicle crash
Moorhead Police say a man is hospitalized following a crash late Tuesday night.
Police responded around 10:30 p.m. on a report a vehicle hit the east ditch in the 700 block of Highway 75 North and struck a light pole and a traffic control sign before he crossed the highway and ran into a storage building in the 2100 block of 7th Avenue North.
The driver, 54-year-old Scott Hanson of Moorhead, was transported to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Police believe alcohol is a factor in the crash. The investigation is ongoing. Criminal charges will be requested.
Becker County Jail staff receive Lifesaver Awards for ‘man down’ incident in May
Six members of the Becker County Jail staff received Lifesaving Awards from a May 2023 incident involving a non-responsive individual at the jail.
The staff responded to a “man down” incident that day and the six members of the jail staff assisted emergency medical personal in reviving the individual.
Becker County Jail Sgt. Clayson and Officers, Guggenberger, Hoard, Karst, Koppelman and Stenger received their awards from Advanced Correctional Healthcare Inc., a jail health services provider.
In a news release, Becker County Sheriff Todd Glander said the actions of those involved, quote, “directly resulted in sustaining a human life.”
He also stated the award is one of the most prestigious that is given to law enforcement.
Wadena woman injured in Highway 10 crash in Benton County
A Wadena woman was injured in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 10 in Benton County on Tuesday night.
On Sept. 5 at 8:17 p.m., a 2018 GMC Acadia, driven by 71-year-old David Lloyd Aldeen of Wadena, was westbound on Highway 10 when it collided with a 2014 Dodge Ram 1500, driven by 27-year-old Brent Tyler Elieff of St. Cloud, at 105th Street intersection.
A passenger in the Acadia, 70-year-old Carol Lynn Aldeen of Wadena, suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the crash and was transported to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment.
Elieff also suffered non-life-threatening injuries, but did not require medical transport.
All three vehicle occupants were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash and law enforcement believes alcohol did not factor into the collision.
Humane Society of Otter Tail County gets new executive director
For the first time in many years, the Humane Society of Otter Tail County will officially have a full-time Executive Director leading the team.
Christoper Cannon and his wife Christine, were first introduced to the nonprofit when they came into the shelter to adopt a senior gerbil, named Gerald.
As they became acquainted with the mission of the HSOTC, they were inspired to sponsor the naming rights for the new pocket pet area.
All of this eventually led Cannon to apply for the role of Executive Director.
Cannon grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, the youngest of four boys, and has spent the last 12 years in the financial industry working with retirement plans, products, and leading anti-money laundering teams.
After marrying Christine, a Minnesota-native, in 2015, they made the move to Fergus Falls in November 2022.
Cannon said he plans to use his corporate experience to lead the HSOTC shelter expansion and make a difference.
Cannon said: “the new space will enable the HSOTC to help even more animals, increase the staffing and volunteer base and improve the overall adoption experience. It will also open up more opportunities for community outreach, education and special events.”
For more information on how you can be a part of the HSOTC , stop by the shelter at 1933 West Fir Avenue in Fergus Falls, or call: 218-739-3494.
Canadian woman sentenced to 23 years for overdose cases
A Canadian woman has been sentenced to 23 years in jail for her role in a fentanyl overdose case that spanned several states.
42-year old Marie Um of Montreal (Quebec) appeared before U.S. District Judge Peter Welte and was also ordered to pay over $11,000 in restitution.
Um was part of an organization that received fentanyl and fentanyl analogues from China and imported them into the United States.
After a two-week trial in a Fargo courtroom the jury found Um guilty of conspiracy to distribute and import controlled substances and money laundering conspiracy.
The jury found her actions were responsible for 9 overdoses – including 4 deaths and 5 serious bodily injuries. The overdoses were in North Dakota, Oregon, North Carolina, and New Jersey.
The case is part of “Operation Denial” which started with the 2015 death of 18 year old Bailey Henke in Grand Forks.
Operation Denial has led to thirty-one defendants charged in North Dakota and three defendants charged in Oregon.
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