Woman faces charges in hit-and-run

The 41-year-old was cited for drunken driving and jailed in the death of a bicyclist in northeast Minneapolis.

By Tim Harlow and Courtney Blanchard, Star Tribune

Last update: December 12, 2007 - 11:46 PM

A 41-year-old woman is expected to be charged this week in the hit-and-run death of a bicyclist in northeast Minneapolis, authorities said Wednesday.

Edward Joseph Gorecki, 51, of Minneapolis, was on his bicycle about 9:30 p.m. Monday at NE. Quincy and Broadway Streets when he was hit by a Jeep driven by Irene Amy Graves, 41, hometown unknown, who was intoxicated, according to police.

He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he died shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday from severe head injuries, according to the Hennepin County medical examiner.

Witness Jennifer Kempenich was driving east on Broadway and said she saw a speeding Jeep without its lights on hit the westbound cyclist.

She stopped to help Gorecki and called 911, but the Jeep driver continued down the road at 45 miles per hour, Kempenich estimated.

"He was still breathing, but there was blood all around his head," said Kempenich, 21, of Columbia Heights, who kneeled over Gorecki while paramedics told her what to do via cell phone until they could arrive.

"You see this stuff on 'CSI,' but to actually be in the middle of the scene and the tape and everything is unbelievable."

Hitting Gorecki was not the Jeep driver's only accident. According to police, Graves dragged Gorecki's bicycle for 1½ blocks, then hit another car at Broadway and NE. 2nd Street.

Officers finally were able to stop her over a mile away at 18th and Fremont Avenues. N., where they cited her for drunken driving. Her blood-alcohol content was 0.10 percent, police spokesman Jesse Garcia said.

Graves was taken to the Hennepin County jail.

She was booked on counts of criminal vehicular operation and a DWI.

As of Wednesday, she had not been charged in the hit-and-run, but she appeared in Hennepin County court in connection with a previous warrant on charges of theft and tampering with a motor vehicle.

According to public records, Graves served prison time for aggravated robbery from 2002 to 2004.

cblanchard@startribune.com • 612-673-4921 tharlow@startribune.com • 612-673-7768

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