Iron Range man admits to being drunk when he killed driver in a head-on crash

The victim was on her way home from work at the Lodge at Giants Ridge when the crash occurred.

October 24, 2022 at 2:01PM

An Iron Range man admitted to being extremely drunk when he crossed into oncoming traffic and killed a driver in a head-on collision this past summer.

Michael K. Miller, 40, of Virginia, pleaded guilty last week in St. Louis County District Court to criminal vehicular homicide in connection with the Aug. 12 crash near Embarrass that killed Joni Dahl, 39, of rural Eveleth, Minn.

Michael K. Miller (St. Louis County jail/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The plea deal with prosecutors calls for Miller to receive a four-year sentence. With credit for jail time already served, Miller can expect to serve the first 2 23 years in prison and the balance on supervised release.

A preliminary breath test given to Miller at the scene measured his blood alcohol content at 0.247%, according to the criminal complaint. An updated complaint reported that a test of Miller's blood came back with a reading of 0.195%.

Dahl was on her way home from work as a bartender and server at the Lodge at Giants Ridge in Biwabik when the crash occurred on Hwy. 21 west of Embarrass, said resort manager Desiree Bergquist. Dahl had a master's degree in supply chain management and worked by day as a materials manager.

According to the complaint, Miller told the deputy that he had just left the Hideaway Bar, where he had mixed vodka drinks. An Embarrass Fire Department employee told the deputy he saw Miller several hours earlier at the Shack, a bar about 8 miles from the crash scene.

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Paul Walsh

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Paul Walsh is a general assignment reporter at the Star Tribune. He wants your news tips, especially in and near Minnesota.

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