MN Teen Charged In Crash That Killed Woman And Injured Her Son, 11

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MN — An 18-year-old from Proctor was charged Tuesday in a crash that killed a 48-year-old woman and injured her 11-year-old son in rural St. Louis County.

Jesse J. Kowalczak faces two counts of criminal vehicular homicide. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

Investigators said Kowalczak was driving through thick fog, going between 72 and 89 miles per hour in a 40 miles per hour zone, before the collision.

The crash killed Leah Joy Sarko. A GoFundMe page was established for her family.

Just before 9 a.m. on May 13, emergency crews responded to a two-car crash at the intersection of South Ugstad Road and Ugstad Junction in St. Louis County.

A Subaru Forester was found flipped on its side in the middle of the road 200 feet south of the intersection, according to the criminal complaint. Sarko was trapped inside, having difficulty breathing. She died at the scene, authorities said.

Her son, also injured, was found outside of the Subaru calling for his mother, according to the criminal complaint. He survived and was taken to Essentia Health Duluth with non-life-threatening injuries, investigators said.

Meanwhile, Kowalczak — who ended up trapped in his car in the east ditch — was rescued and taken to St. Luke's with non-life-threatening injuries, according to authorities.

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