Local woman charged with DWI after car crashes into motorcycle
Published 10:44 pm Monday, June 26, 2017
A Glenville woman who was allegedly intoxicated when she drove her vehicle into a motorcycle early Sunday, causing two people to be injured after being ejected from the bike at the intersection of Main Street and Broadway Avenue in Albert Lea, was charged Monday.
Rachel Sue Olson, 41, is charged with gross misdemeanor criminal vehicular operation and two counts of second-degree driving while intoxicated in Freeborn County District Court.
Court documents state Olson was charged after Albert Lea police officers were dispatched to the crash at about 1:45 a.m. A motorcycle was reportedly on its right side, and a woman — the passenger of the motorcycle — was laying on her back near the crash, experiencing back and knee pain.
Court documents state the occupants of the motorcycle, whose names were not listed on the documents, said they were approaching Main Street, driving south on Broadway Avenue and entering the intersection before being struck head-on by a white passenger car that swerved in front of them.
The driver of the motorcycle said the crash caused him to be ejected from the motorcycle, flying over the handlebars and landing on the hood of the car. He was reportedly limping after the crash.
Court documents state Olson was identified as the driver of the car, and she was described as having slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes, with an odor of an alcoholic beverage. She said she was traveling north on Broadway Avenue, and the light at the intersection was green as she was trying to make a left turn onto Main Street. She allegedly said she thought the motorcycle was turning left, and said she did not see the bike before she struck it.
Olson reportedly incorrectly stated the number of steps she took during an alcohol test administered by officers, and allegedly had a .194 blood-alcohol content on a preliminary breath test.
Olson has pleaded not guilty to the charges. A settlement conference is scheduled for Aug. 16, and a jury trial is scheduled for Nov. 14, if the case has not been settled by then.
Court documents state Olson has a DWI conviction from a 2009 incident.
Gross misdemeanor criminal vehicular operation carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a $3,000 fine.