A 64-year-old woman died Sunday, April 4, just days after being charged with third-degree driving while intoxicated following an Aitkin County crash.
The Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office responded at 11 a.m. March 30 to a report of a vehicle in the ditch in Beaver Township, southeast of McGregor.
The driver of the vehicle, Karen I. Maki, refused treatment from McGregor Ambulance staff. Maki exhibited signs of intoxication and emitted an odor of alcohol, the sheriff’s office reported. A preliminary breath test revealed an alcohol concentration level of 0.20%. Maki was subsequently arrested and transported to the Aitkin County Jail on charges of third-degree DWI.
At about 9:15 p.m. that night, jail staff noted a change in Maki’s physical condition and identified possible seizure activity. She was immediately transported by ambulance to Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin.
After a few hours, Maki was released back to the Aitkin County Jail, where staff was in constant contact with her, as she appeared unable to care for herself and was in need of constant nursing supervision.
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At 9:40 p.m. March 31, Maki was again transported by ambulance to Riverwood Healthcare Center, where she was pronounced dead four days later on April 4.
A provisional autopsy conducted by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner indicates several findings, including seizure disorder, cerebromalacia and hepatic cirrhosis.
