A 22-year-old Park Rapids, Minn., motorist on an after-party "buzz" blocked a street racing rival from passing him late at night, forced the thwarted driver into a fatal rollover and then fled the scene, according to felony charges filed this week.
Dakota P. Walsh was charged Monday in Hubbard County District Court with criminal vehicular homicide and other felonies in the death northwest of Park Rapids on July 23 of Avery J. Mikel, 19, of nearby Nevis.
Mikel graduated from Nevis High School in 2015 and was a member of the Minnesota Army National Guard at the time of his death, according to his funeral home obituary.
Walsh posted bond and was released from jail. A telephone message was left at his home Tuesday morning seeking reaction to the charges. Court records show he has not yet hired an attorney.
According to the criminal complaint:
Walsh told an investigator he had been racing Mikel earlier in the evening on their way to a party in Becker County. After leaving the gathering, the two departed in separate vehicles. Walsh said he left the party with a "buzz" on from drinking.
Soon after, Mikel attempted to pass Walsh's pickup but Walsh blocked him from doing so. Mikel lost control of his SUV and crashed.
Walsh said he turned around to check on Mikel and yelled his name but "freaked out" and left without calling law enforcement.
