WORTHINGTON - The driver charged in a crash that killed a South Dakota man told police he was making a phone call when he ran a stop sign, court records say.
James Miller, 67, of Cylinder, Iowa, faces one count of criminal vehicular homicide, one count of criminal vehicular homicide causing substantial bodily harm, careless driving and failure to stop at a stop sign.
The crash between two tractor-trailers shortly after noon Sept. 19 at the intersection of Nobles County 35 and Minnesota 264, killed Charles Luze, 49, of Sioux Falls, S.D.
Court records say that when officers asked Miller what happened, he responded, “Look at me. I ran the stop sign.” When asked why, he allegedly said, “I had my headset on, and I was making a phone call.” Miller told officers that he had his phone in his hand but did not remember where he was in the process of making the call. Miller told police that he uses voice commands for his Bluetooth headset but sometimes needs to find the number in his phone.
Samuel Luze, son of Charles Luze, also was injured.
