Wishing he could pursue a more serious charge, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom announced Monday that his office has filed a misdemeanor complaint against a 24-year-old driver in a collision at an Eagan intersection that killed a passenger in the other vehicle.
Bashir A. Abdulahi, 24, of Minneapolis, was charged with careless driving in the death on Sept. 12 of Sandra S. Brodin, 68, of Lakeville. Her husband of nearly 50 years, Dale Brodin, was driving the couple's Mini Cooper.
Driving a van west on Hwy. 55 and approaching the intersection with Hwy. 149, Abdulahi ran into the passenger side of the smaller vehicle, which was was turning left with a green arrow, according to the complaint.
The range of punishment Abdulahi faces if convicted runs from no jail time to 90 days and/or a fine of $300 to $1,000.
Backstrom expressed disappointment that he could not seek a more serious charge against Abdulahi. He has joined with others in seeking state legislation that would increase the penalties for fatal traffic crashes.
The county attorney said this the 10th careless-driving case that his office has filed since 2006 involving a fatality and without the charged driver being impaired.
Even though a driver behind Brodin's vehicle told authorities that Brodin had the right of way that late-summer afternoon, Abdulahi told officers that the light was green for him when he entered the intersection, according to the complaint.
Abdulahi was charged by summons. His first court appearance has yet to be scheduled.
