Life-Threatening Crash at Rochester Intersection Leads to Charges

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Olmsted County Attorney’s office has filed felony charges against a scooter operator accused of being high during a crash in Rochester that resulted in serious injuries.

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The crash occurred this past Spring. It involved the scooter and a car at a northwest Rochester intersection controlled by stoplights.

The criminal complaint, filed Tuesday in Olmsted County Court, says Rochester Police responded to the crash at the intersection of 19th St. and Elton Hills Dr. Northwest on May 16.

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The car driver told police she had a green light and was making a left turn onto eastbound Elton Hills Dr. when her vehicle was struck by a scooter that ran a red light, a claim that was verified by traffic cameras in the area, the charges say.

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The scooter operator, identified in the court document as 21-year-old Christian Lloyd Russ of Rochester, told police he had smoked marijuana before operating the scooter with a passenger on board.

Russ complaint. Olmsted County Court

The passenger suffered a life-threatening leg injury that severed his artery that was likely to result in the man having his leg amputated, the complaint says.

The passenger and Russ were taken to St. Mary’s Hospital where the passenger was taken into surgery. Investigators obtained a warrant to test a sample of Russ’s blood. The results indicated the presence of amphetamine and methamphetamine, according to the complaint.

Russ complaint. Olmsted County Court

Russ was charged Tuesday with two felony counts of criminal vehicular operation-under the influence of a controlled substance. He’s due to make his first court appearance next month.