MN Driver Went 80 MPH Before Crash Killing 5-Year-Old Girl: Police

LAKE ELMO, MN — A 47-year-old St. Paul man was criminally charged on Monday for his role in an east metro crash that killed 5-year-old Morgan Rae Peterson.

Jeffrey D. Alexander Jr. faces two counts of criminal vehicular homicide. The charges accuse Alexander of "operating a motor vehicle in a grossly negligent manner" and "while under the influence" of alcohol and a controlled substance.

If convicted, Alexander faces up to 10 years in prison at a $20,000 fine.

On Jan. 20 at about 8:45 p.m., a Ford Focus suffered a mechanical failure that left it stalled in the left traffic lane on eastbound Highway 36 at Lake Elmo Avenue.

A Nissan Pathfinder — also going eastbound on Highway 36 — crashed into the back of the Ford Focus at highway speeds, authorities said.

Petersen — who was in the Ford Focus — was transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where she died.

Also in the Ford were the girl's father and her 10-year-old brother. They were both hospitalized at Regions with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Nissan had been behind another vehicle, and when that vehicle changed lanes to avoid the stalled Ford, the Nissan struck the Ford from behind, according to investigators.

The roadway was clear and dry, and the flashing lights of the stalled vehicle were visible for approximately ¼ mile in the distance, authorities said.

The Nissan was traveling more than 60 mph at the point of impact but had been traveling 81 MPH five seconds before the crash, according to crash reconstruction experts.

The posted speed limit on Highway 36 in that area is 65 MPH.

A search warrant was obtained for a blood draw from Alexander. The draw revealed a blood alcohol concentration of .056 and the presence of Clonazepam, which the defendant was prescribed, at a level of .004 mg/l, according to authorities.

According to the criminal complaint, the State Patrol found the contributing factors in the crash included:

• Alexander failed to recognize the hazard created by the stalled Ford before changing lanes into the left lane.
• Alexander failed to drive at or below the posted speed limit
• Alexander failed to drive with sufficient distance between his vehicle and those in front of him to react to hazards within the roadway.
• Alexander suffered from impairment from alcohol and clonazepam.