Jacob Thatcher. (OTCDF)
ERHARD, Minn. (KFGO-KBRF) – The surviving driver involved in Sunday’s fatal crash near Erhard has been charged with vehicular manslaughter.
Jacob Thatcher, 25, of Fergus Falls, has been charged with two counts of criminal vehicular manslaughter. One count is for driving in a negligent manner while under the influence of any combination of alcohol and controlled substance, and the other is for negligent driving.
Prosecutors say at around 4:50 p.m. Sunday, Thatcher was heading south on U.S. Highway 59 when he met another car heading north and the two vehicles collided in the northbound lane. Thatcher was taken to Lake Region Hospital and the driver of the northbound car, Basro Abokar, 51, of Pelican Rapids, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A witness told state troopers that Thatcher had been behind her on the road, and she could see him weaving outside of the lane lines. When she passed the northbound car, she looked in her mirror and saw Thatcher’s vehicle swerve into the car. The witness stated that prior to the crash it had been lightly sprinkling outside, but there were no weather conditions, no issues with visibility and no hazardous road conditions at the time.
Troopers spoke with Thatcher at the hospital, and he said he was driving at least 75 miles per hour in a 60 mile per hour speed zone and was swerving left and right dealing with unbalanced tires and bad calipers on the vehicle. He said that he had consumed a “shooter” of 99 proof liquor in his vehicle before driving. He also said that he is on medications and is a “light weight” with alcohol.
Thatcher told troopers that he was driving and was trying to situate the steering because it was shaking from his speed and he had to slow down. He said he became impatient with the vehicle in front of him going too slow and was going to pass it. He then remembered hitting the other vehicle head-on in its lane.
Thatcher’s blood was collected and has been sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for analysis. He made his first court appearance Thursday morning.
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