Driver Was Drunk In Crash Killing Woodbury Man, Oakdale Woman: Police

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MN — A 23-year-year-old New Richmond, Wisconsin man was drunk when he crashed his truck, killing two passengers, according to police.

Darren A. Tenney was charged Tuesday with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide (operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .08 or more).

If convicted, Tenney faces 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office identified the deceased as Joseph David Trowbridge of Woodbury and Madison Joy Warren of Oakdale.

On Sept. 9 at 2:50 a.m., dispatch received an iPhone message indicating a car crash occurred in the area of Highway 8 and Benson Road in Floodwood Township.

At the scene, deputies found a truck in the ditch that was completely split into two after striking a tree. The truck missed a curve in the road and — based on the violent nature of the way the truck was mangled — appeared to have been traveling at a very high rate of speed, investigators said.

Deputies found Trowbridge, who died at the scene after being ejected from the truck. Warren — who was pinned down in the back part of the cab — was also dead.

Tenny — who was partially ejected and pinned down under the steering column — began to regain consciousness as deputies arrived. He was told not to move until he could be extricated.

A deputy detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Tenny, whose speech was slurred, according to the criminal complaint. There were numerous Busch Light beer cans at the crash site, authorities said.

Tenny wavered between saying there were three and four people in the truck at the time of the crash, according to the criminal complaint. Deputies conducted "an extensive search" of the area but no other occupants were found, authorities said.

A blood taken just after 6:30 a.m. showed Tenny with a blood-alcohol content of 0.117, over the legal limit of .08, the criminal complaint states.