DWI crash that injured 2 results in probation

Published 1:09 pm Sunday, January 7, 2018

A Glenville woman who was intoxicated when she drove her vehicle into a motorcycle in late June, 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 placed on probation for four years Thursday in Freeborn County District Court.

Rachel Sue Olson

Rachel Sue Olson, 42, was sentenced to two years of supervised probation and two years of unsupervised probation after she pleaded guilty to second-degree driving while intoxicated in October. She was given a stayed sentence of 178 days in jail and was given credit for two days served.

While on probation, Olson will not be allowed to possess alcohol or drugs with the exception of prescribed medications, submit to random testing, attend the Mothers Against Drug Driving impact panel, be on electronic home monitoring for about one month and follow other requirements.

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Court documents state Olson was charged after Albert Lea police officers were dispatched to the crash early in the morning of June 25. A motorcycle was 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.

The occupants of the motorcycle 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 limping after the crash.

Olson, the driver of the white vehicle, reportedly incorrectly stated the number of steps she took during an alcohol test administered by officers and had a .194 blood-alcohol content on a preliminary breath test.

Olson has a DWI conviction from a 2009 incident.

Olson was charged with one count of gross misdemeanor criminal vehicular operation and a second count of second-degree DWI, but those charges were dismissed at sentencing.

About Sam Wilmes

Sam Wilmes covers crime, courts and government for the Albert Lea Tribune.

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