A 28-year-old woman was driving about 100 miles per hour before her car vaulted into oncoming traffic in Burnsville, struck an SUV and killed an 11-year-old boy in the other vehicle, according to charges filed Tuesday.
Leah C. Graeber, of Savage, was charged with one count of criminal vehicular homicide, three counts of criminal vehicular operation and fifth-degree possession of cocaine.
A blood test revealed that Graeber was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash on the evening of July 18, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said.
"This is a tragic example of the significant danger associated with driving at excessive speeds," Backstrom said.
According to the criminal complaint:
Witnesses told State Patrol troopers that Graeber was heading south on Hwy. 13 at an estimated 100 mph, when her car drove through the grassy median, vaulted into the air, and struck the northbound SUV and a car near Washburn Avenue in Burnsville.
Killed in the SUV was Joey Balistreri of Burnsville. His father, Geoffrey Balistreri, who was seriously hurt, still needs crutches to get around and "may never regain full movement of his ankle," the complaint read. Two other passengers, Geoffrey Balistreri's wife and daughter, suffered minor injuries.
Troopers found an open container of beer, two pipes with residue and a plastic tube in Graeber's vehicle.
