Charges are anticipated against a semitrailer truck driver who allegedly rear-ended a taxi sitting at a red light in St. Cloud, killing the cabdriver and one of his two back-seat passengers, authorities said Sunday.
The crash, at about 7:20 a.m. Saturday on Hwy. 10 at St. Germain Street on the city's east side, also severely injured a second cab passenger, according to the State Patrol.
Killed were Thomas L. Findlay, 66, of Sartell, the driver of the van operated by Elite Taxi, and passenger Emily R. LeTourneau, 22, of Big Lake, Minn., the patrol said. Findlay had on his seat belt; LeTourneau did not.
The other passenger in the cab, 24-year-old Marche D. Price of New Hope, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital, according to the patrol. Price also was not wearing a seat belt. Her boyfriend, Dustin Bookwalter, said her condition has improved as she recovers from a broken arm and other injuries. A hospital spokeswoman said Price was in serious condition Sunday.
The big rig's driver was identified as James D. Cockram, 61, of Owatonna, Minn. He had on his seat belt and was not hurt, the patrol said.
The cab was sitting on southbound Hwy. 10 at a red light at the intersection with St. Germain when the semitrailer truck struck the back of the smaller vehicle, according to the patrol.
Investigators say there is no indication that Cockram took any evasive action in the moments leading up to the crash, said Patrol Lt. Tiffani Nielson.
"Charges are likely" against Cockram after the patrol concludes its reconstruction of the wreck, Nielson said.
