Faribault Man Sentenced After Hitting Man On Cannon Lake In Dec 2019
A 21-year-old Faribault man was sentenced to 5 years probation after pleading guilty to criminal vehicular operation causing great bodily harm and leaving the scene of the accident and underage drinking and driving stemming from a crash on Cannon Lake in December of 2019.
According to the amended complaint, on December 13 2019 Rice County Sheriff's deputies responded to Shager Park next to Cannon Lake on a report that a male was struck by a snowmobile while out on the ice. Also responding Faribault Fire and Rescue was able to reach the victim on the ice by using a civilian's snowmobile and ice house sled.
Witnesses at the scene stated that then 20-year-old Dennis Krenz had left the area where a group of people was fishing around 8pm. Witnesses stated that Krenz came back to the group at a "high speed" on a snowmobile without a headlight on. Krenz hit the victim with the snowmobile according to the amended complaint going "50-60 mph".
Krenz was found after the accident according to the complaint "onshore" and "warming up in his father's pickup truck." Krenz told a Rice County Deputy that his "headlight was flickering on and off at the time of the crash," and he was only "going 20mph." The deputy, after noticing the odor of alcohol, asked Krenz how much he had to drink that evening, in which Krenz responded that he "had a couple." A preliminary breath test taken at the scene resulted in a .032.
Two charges against Krenz were dismissed in the plea agreement. In addition to the 5 years of probation, Krenz must not have direct or indirect contact with the victim or victim's family, not operate a recreation vehicle (ATV, Snowmobile, Etc), complete a DUI education class, complete 40 hours of community service a year for an indeterminate period of time, and pay restitution in the amount of $10,627.27.
The victim of the crash, a 23-year-old Faribault man, had a portion of his skull removed and was hospitalized for months as a result of being hit by the snowmobile, and as of March of 2020 was in a long-term care facility.
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