A 17-year-old driver has been charged with a felony for allegedly checking a text message and causing a crash at an Eagan intersection that left a 15-month-old boy in the other vehicle with a traumatic brain injury.

The Shakopee girl was charged last week in Dakota County juvenile court with criminal vehicular operation, a felony, and misdemeanor careless driving in connection with the July 17 wreck.

"This was a terrible crash that could have been prevented that resulted in life-threatening injuries to a child," Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said Friday.

"Distracted or inattentive driving is a factor in one in four crashes each year in Minnesota. We hope this young victim fully recovers from this traumatic brain injury."

Also injured in the crash were the toddler's mother, who was driving, and a friend of the mother seated in the front passenger seat, police said. All were treated at hospitals and have been discharged.

Authorities have yet to release the identities of the defendant or the people in the other car.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police arrived at the intersection about 8:40 a.m. and found two cars with front-end damage. The teenage driver told police she was heading to school on three hours of sleep. She also said she was looking at her phone and reading a text message when she made a left turn from eastbound Diffley Road onto Nicols Road and struck an oncoming car.

Witnesses confirmed that the teen was looking down at the time of the crash.

The 15-month-old boy, who had been belted in a car seat in the back seat, suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where he underwent surgery.

The child's mother and her friend also were taken to Regions Hospital and treated for ankle, leg and chest injuries.

The teen will make her first appearance in juvenile court on Nov. 25.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482