Shakopee Man Charged With Multiple Injury Hit and Run in Mankato

Mankato, MN ( Learfield Wire Services/TTWN Media Networks) --  Multiple charges have been filed against a man that authorities say intentionally drove into a group of people early Sunday morning in Mankato, injuring six people — two seriously.

Mankato Public Safety Director Todd Miller says the incident followed a party that became violent. He says there was indicated drug activity and several fights broke out that spilled out into the parking lot.

Although the suspect, 21-year-old Juan Carlos Lamas Junior of Shakopee sped off from the scene, Miller says he didn’t get far because the force of the crash sheared off one of the front tires. He was caught by Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Deputies on Highway 22. Preliminary charges include drunk driving, running from police and criminal vehicular operation. Miller is not ruling out attempted murder charges.

Miller says 17-year-olds Jacob Kotz of Kasota and Alyssa Sanford of Mankato were airlifted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester with serious injuries. Also injured were Alec Batson, Yi Chen, Curtis Nash, and Caleb Clobes of Mankato; Donovan Hall of Robbinsdale; and Kaylee Johnson of North Mankato. He adds that most of the people involved were under age 18.