Plea deal in crash that killed Minn. coach’s son

Published 10:23 am Thursday, December 6, 2012

GLENWOOD (AP) — A 38-year-old man accused of driving drunk and killing a Minnesota coach’s son has agreed to a plea deal.

Dana Schoen of rural Starbuck pleaded guilty Tuesday to amended charges in Pope County District Court.

The court administrator’s office said that Schoen pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal vehicular operation.

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In July, Schoen’s pickup collided with an SUV carrying Southwest Minnesota State University men’s basketball coach Brad Bigler.

Bigler’s 5-month-old son, Drake, was killed. Bigler was critically injured. His wife, Heather, who was driving the SUV, and her 74-year-old grandmother, Sharon Schuler of Granite Falls, also were hurt.

Schoen’s plea deal includes an admission of a blood-alcohol content of 0.32 percent, four times Minnesota’s legal limit.

Sentencing is set for Jan. 25.