Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- An arrest warrant has been issued for the man accused of causing an injury crash by driving the wrong way on Hwy. 52 in Rochester earlier this year. 

See Also: Elderly Driver Injured in Crash at Dangerous Rochester Intersection 

Authorities requested the warrant due to the “the significant delay occasioned by a summons, the serious injuries caused by this crash, and the immediate risk to public safety,” the court filing says 

The state was granted the warrant on Wednesday. 

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Arrest Warrant Issued for Suspected Drunk Driver Who Caused Wrong-Way Crash on Hwy. 52 In Rochester

First responders were dispatched to the wrong-way crash on Hwy. 52 near the 6th St. Southwest interchange in Rochester on January 13. 

A Ford SUV traveling south in the northbound lanes of the freeway collided with a northbound SUV, according to the State Patrol’s crash report

Hwy. 52/6th St. interchange rochester
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62-year-old Diane Kay Jerome of Oronoco was identified by the State Patrol as the Honda driver. The warrant says she suffered a lacerated liver, a brain bleed, several fractured ribs and multiple cuts and bruises. 

She told troopers she attempted to miss the oncoming SUV but it crashed into her. 

26-year-old David Delos Santos Aparicio of Rochester was identified as the Ford driver. The warrant says he responded “no but I’m drunk” and admitted to having 8-9 beers before driving when a trooper asked him if he knew he was driving the wrong way. 

A preliminary blood test measured Aparicio’s blood alcohol concentration at 0.247, which is more than three times the legal limit, the warrant says. 

Aparicio arrest warrant
Aparicio warrant. Olmsted County Court
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A subsequent test of a blood sample obtained from Aparicio indicated he had a 0.223 blood alcohol concentration. Aparicio was not arrested after the crash due to non-life-threatening injuries he suffered in the collision, according to the court document. 

The warrant charges Aparicio with two counts of criminal vehicular operation

The Largest Minnesota Wildfires In Modern History

While Minnesota has experienced even larger, more devastating fires like the 350,00-acre Hinckley Fire in 1884 of the 250,000-acre Cloquet-Moose Lake Fire in 1918, fires have thankfully been relatively smaller in more modern times.

Even though these more modern fires have been smaller, largely due to better firefighting capabilities, many have still been devastating and destructive. Here's a look at Minnesota's largest wildfires since 2007 based on information from the Minnesota Incident Command System.

Gallery Credit: Nick Cooper

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