Barkley cited for careless driving after his car slides into another

Star Tribune

Last update: December 20, 2008 - 9:11 PM

Former U.S. Sen. Dean Barkley was ticketed for careless driving early Saturday after he lost control of his car while driving home from a Christmas party.

Barkley, who ran as an Independence Party candidate in the 2008 U.S. Senate race, said he had two beers before heading home. It was about 2 a.m. when he was trying to merge his car onto the northbound lanes of Interstate 35W from 35th Street and hit a patch of ice, slid and struck another car before he was pushed off the roadway. Barkley, who said he and the other driver were not hurt, walked to the Fifth Precinct Police station at 31st Street and Nicollet Avenue to report the accident. Lt. Mark Peterson of the Minnesota State Patrol confirmed Saturday that Barkley was ticketed for careless driving.

Barkley said he doesn't necessarily agree with the careless driving charge but will determine later whether to fight it. In the meantime, he's concentrating on dealing with insurance companies to get his car fixed.

"There's nothing that dramatic about it," he said Saturday.

ABBY SIMONS

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