Chatfield Man Pleads Not Guilty To Criminal Vehicle Homicide

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Chatfield man accused of causing the death of a Rochester motorcyclist in an alcohol-involved crash last year has entered a not-guilty plea to criminal vehicular homicide and other charges.

58-year-old Nicholas Sprau faces three counts of criminal vehicular homicide, a gross misdemeanor DWI charge, and a misdemeanor DWI in connection with the death of 36-year-old Rick Hutton on the night of September 10, 2022. Court documents say Hutton was traveling south on Highway 52 near Chatfield when his motorcyclist collided with a car driven by Sprau after he attempted to turn left into his driveway from the northbound lane.

The criminal complaint indicates a blood test on samples taken from Sprau after the fatal crash measured his blood-alcohol-concentration at more than .17, which is more than double the legal limit. Sprau and his passenger were not injured.

The court document includes the results of a crash reconstruction investigation conducted by the State Patrol. It estimated Hutton's motorcycle was traveling at nearly 40 mph when it collided with the passenger side of Sprau's car. It also estimated that the motorcycle was moving at nearly 60 miles per hour when Hutton hit the brakes as Sprau's car turned into his path.

Sprau, who was released without bail, is currently scheduled to stand trial on the charges next spring.