A onetime national champion college hockey player has been sentenced after admitting she caused a two-vehicle crash in western Minnesota that killed a teammate riding with her.
Gianna K. Gasparini, 20, of Lakeville pleaded guilty Monday in Chippewa County District Court to a gross-misdemeanor count of reckless driving in connection to the midday collision on Aug. 20, 2023. The crash about 20 miles west of Willmar killed Gusties goaltender Jori Lynn Jones, 19, of Little Canada.
Gasparini was sentenced under what is called a stay of adjudication. That means if she abides by the terms of her one year of unsupervised probation, which includes paying a $3,000 fine and remaining law abiding, the charge will be dismissed and the conviction removed from the court record.
According to the criminal complaint:
The SUV driven by Gasparini was heading east on Hwy. 40 in Grace Township with three teammates as passengers when she collided with a southbound minivan at the intersection with Hwy. 29. All four women in the SUV were taken to Montevideo Hospital for treatment of various injuries.
In a statement taken at the hospital, Gasparini said the thought she was traveling 68 mph and “didn’t notice that it was a four-way intersection until it was too late.”
She admitted to drinking at a concert the night before but didn’t think there was alcohol in her system; a preliminary breath sample confirmed her belief.
Gasparini said she wasn’t distracted by her phone. She said she didn’t take her ADHD medicine that morning but “should have” because it helps her “focus better,” the complaint states.
