A Bloomington man with a history of driving violations has been charged with a felony in the hit-and-run death of an 85-year-old woman who was walking home in the dark after visiting her husband in a nursing home.

Mark W. Lindgren, 54, made his first court appearance Tuesday and $30,000 bail was set. He turned himself in Monday night at the Hennepin County Detention Center.

The incident occurred at 7:34 p.m. on Oct. 21. Dorothy Hanson had walked from her Bloomington home on 10th Avenue South a few blocks to Martin Luther Care Center to take a homemade spaghetti dinner to her husband, who was suffering from kidney failure. It was dark when she left for home and tried to cross Old Shakopee Road at an intersection about 30 yards from a marked crosswalk controlled by traffic lights.

According to the criminal complaint, witnesses said a dark-colored, full-sized pick-up with an extended cab hit Hanson as she tried to cross the street. After the impact, the complaint said, the truck drove on and accelerated. Police found pieces of a Chevrolet Silverado headlight and fender at the scene.

Hanson died at Hennepin County Medical Center that night.

Five days later, Bloomington police were contacted by an attorney who directed them to a black Silverado in the parking lot of the Richfield-Bloomington Eagles Club. It was missing the driver's side headlight and had damage to the front driver's side fender. The truck was registered to Lindgren.

A document written on a computer was found in Lindgren's apartment, the complaint said. The document said that on the evening of the accident, he had consumed one drink at a restaurant and had stopped by a bonfire at a friend's house before going home.

"Got home and noticed the left headlight out and damage," the document said. "Assumed it was a deer or bird."

Lindgren's attorney, John Tackett, said his client has not yet given a statement to police. Lindgren's next court appearance is Dec. 7.

Lindgren has been ticketed for several driving violations, the most recent in 2003. They include driving after withdrawal (of a license), driving under the influence, speeding and careless driving.

Hanson's husband, Robert, died nine days after she did. He was 85.

Mary Jane Smetanka • 612-673-7380