Man Convicted In Double-Fatal Crash On Highway 55 In Rosemount

ROSEMOUNT, MN — A Dakota County Jury agreed on Wednesday to convict a man after a double-fatal car crash in Rosemount, Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena announced.

Fred T. Fonji, 49, of Roseville was found guilty of two counts of criminal vehicular homicide and one count of careless driving in the collision.

The Oct. 7, 2019 crash killed 48-year-old Colette Larae Craig and 47-year-old William Louis Craig of South St. Paul. The couple was in their 2015 Suburu legacy when they were pushed into a dump truck and ended up in a ditch off Highway 55.

The jury deliberated for about 13 hours before coming up with their verdict, according to a news release. A sentencing hearing was scheduled for May 19.

"I wish to thank the jury for its verdicts ensuring Mr. Fonji will be held accountable for these tragic deaths," Keena said in a statement. "My deepest sympathy is extended to the family and friends of the Craig's for their great loss."

On Oct. 17, 2019, a Minnesota State Patrol trooper was going west on Highway 55 in Rosemount when he spotted a dump truck, a semi-truck, and a passenger vehicle that had been split in half and smashed in between the two in the ditch.

There was also a pick-up truck in the ditch, and the scene was still "smoking" when the trooper arrived, the criminal complaint states.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol crash report, a semi was going east on Highway 55 but stopped to turn left on Doyle Path.

A Suburu and a Dodge Ram were both stopped behind the semi — waiting for it to turn — when they were struck from behind by Fonji's dump truck, according to authorities.

The Ram was pushed into the Suburu, which then rear-ended the semi, investigators said. The Craigs died at the scene.