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Bahr appears in court
Staff Writer A 20-year-old Pine River woman appeared in Crow Wing County District Court Tuesday on criminal charges involving a two-vehicle crash early Monday that claimed the life of her friend and injured three others.
Annie Bahr, 20, Pine River, appeared before Judge Richard Zimmerman Tuesday afternoon. Bahr, who is suffering from a broken collarbone and other injuries as a result of the accident, was charged with two felony counts of criminal vehicular homicide, one felony count of criminal vehicular operation and two counts of gross misdemeanor criminal vehicular operation.
The charges stem from a two-vehicle accident reported at 3:23 a.m. Monday on Crow Wing County Road 4, one mile north of County Road 18 near Breezy Point that claimed the life of Jackie Saddler, 20, Nisswa, who was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Bahr. Saddler was transported by helicopter after the accident to St. Cloud Hospital where she was pronounced dead Monday afternoon.
According to the sheriff's department, Bahr lost control of her northbound car, crossed the center line and was struck broadside by a southbound car driven by Ann Nicoski, 20, St. Paul.
Passengers in the Nicoski vehicle were Sunita Lankey, 18, St. Paul, and Laquanda Hammons, 22, Cottage Grove. Nicoski and Lankey suffered minor injuries and were transported to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd where Lankey was treated and released and Nicoski's condition was unknown Tuesday. Hammons, according to the criminal complaint, suffered two broken legs and was listed in fair condition at the Brainerd hospital Tuesday.
According to the criminal complaint, a Crow Wing County sheriff's deputy responded to the scene and observed two badly damaged vehicles in the southbound lane. Bahr, who was standing outside her vehicle, told the deputy she and Saddler were on their way back from a party in Merrifield and were heading to a house in Pequot Lakes. Bahr, according to the complaint, could not remember how the crash happened. The deputy noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from Bahr and administered a preliminary breath test, which showed Bahr's alcohol concentration of .154, according to the criminal complaint. The legal limit is .10.
Fred Weiss, 20, who was at the scene, told the deputy he was traveling in a vehicle in front of Bahr and as they rounded the curve he could see in his mirrors that Bahr was beginning to lose control of her car, according to the complaint. Weiss stated that when he completed the curve he lost sight of Bahr's car and turned around and came upon the accident.
Nicoski told law enforcement that she had just left her cabin in Crosslake and was en route to Brainerd with her friends when she saw Bahr's vehicle come around the corner "really fast" and saw Bahr's vehicle lose control. Nicoski said she could not stop in time and struck Bahr's vehicle.
Bahr was then transported to St. Joseph's Medical Center where she was treated for her injuries. Upon her release she was arrested and transported to the Crow Wing County Jail.
Judge Zimmerman allowed Bahr to be released from jail into the custody of her parents Tuesday after posting $12,000 unconditional bail or bond.
The courtroom was filled with Bahr's friends and family, many of whom were in tears. Crow Wing County Attorney Don Ryan said the county does not consider Bahr to be a flight risk or a risk to society. Chuck Halverson, Bahr's attorney, said this was a "tragic accident" and he said his client needs to heal emotionally and physically from the accident. Zimmerman said Bahr will be allowed to work at her job as a bartender at Moonlite Bay Restaurant and Bar in Crosslake but she is not allowed to consume alcohol and must not be at the bar when she isn't working.
Bahr's next court appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Aug. 15.
JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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