ALEXANDRIA, Minn. -- A 41-year-old Sauk Centre woman faces five alcohol-related charges, four of them felonies, after a crash that seriously injured a 23-month-old boy in Alexandria on Saturday.
Becky Lynn Laforge was charged in Douglas County District Court Monday with two counts of operating a vehicle in a negligent manner that caused “great bodily harm” while she was either under the influence of alcohol or had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more.
The other two felony charges allege that she caused “substantial bodily harm” while she was either under the influence of alcohol or had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more.
She was also charged with a fourth-degree misdemeanor of driving while under the influence of alcohol.
The boy was struck by a car about 7:35 p.m. on the 700 block of Jefferson Street.
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When officers arrived, they found the child, Cori Holmes, unresponsive in the roadway. He was also having difficulty breathing.
While talking with Laforge, who was driving the car, an officer noticed that she had bloodshot watery eyes and he detected alcohol on her breath, according to the criminal complaint.
A preliminary breath test indicated that Laforge had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.187, more than twice the legal limit, according to the complaint. A sample of Laforge’s blood was also taken to a lab for analysis.
Witnesses said that the vehicle was traveling about 40 mph in the 30 mph zone moments before hitting the boy.
They told officers that Laforge tried to leave the scene but they prevented her from doing so by standing in front of the car and taking her keys.
Three passengers in the car told officers that they had been drinking with Laforge at a bar and were on their way to another bar.
Laforge told officers that she decided to take the “back roads,” which is why they were driving through the residential area on Jefferson Street.
Laforge said that the child came from the left of the roadway and that she tried to brake and swerve but hit the child.
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The child was transported to the Douglas County Hospital and then flown to Hennepin County Medical Center. He remained hospitalized as of Monday afternoon and was listed in satisfactory condition.
Laforge was taken to jail and appeared in court Monday. A cash bail of $2,000 was posted and was expected to be released Monday afternoon.
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By Al Edenloff
