– Charges filed in Amish buggy crash resulting in fatalities
– Amish buggy crash leads to charges and child fatalities.

Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Vehicular Homicide Charges Filed Against Woman in Amish Buggy Crash

ROCHESTER — Vehicular homicide charges have been filed against a woman from southeastern Minnesota more than four months after a tragic crash between a buggy and an SUV resulted in the deaths of two Amish children in Fillmore County this fall.

Samantha Jo Petersen, 35 years old, is now facing a total of 21 charges in connection with the incident. These charges include eight felony counts of criminal vehicular homicide, eight counts of criminal vehicular operation (also felonies), two gross misdemeanor counts of driving while impaired, and two misdemeanor counts of failing to provide proof of insurance and careless driving. Additionally, one petty misdemeanor charge for speeding has also been included.

The crash, which occurred on September 25, initially led investigators to identify Sarah Beth Petersen, 35, as the driver of the silver SUV that collided with the Amish buggy. However, further investigation led authorities to suspect that it may have been Sarah’s twin sister, Samantha Jo Petersen, who was behind the wheel.

According to the initial reports from the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office, the accident took place around 8:25 a.m. on Fillmore County Road 1, near the intersection with County Road 102. A 2005 Toyota 4Runner traveling south on the road struck the two-wheeled horse-drawn Amish buggy from behind.

The devastating crash resulted in the tragic deaths of seven-year-old Wilma Miller and 11-year-old Irma Miller, while their siblings, 9-year-old Alan Miller and 13-year-old Rose Miller, sustained injuries. Additionally, a horse was also killed as a result of the collision.

An 18-page criminal complaint has been filed, outlining the intricate details of the events that transpired at the crash scene. The complaint includes statements from witnesses who observed a woman, believed to be the driver, making a call to 911 while describing her as a “blonde female wearing a black and red Hy-Vee employee shirt.” Another witness mentioned seeing a woman with light blonde hair and no eyeglasses, and later noticed another woman who resembled the first woman but was dressed differently.

According to the complaint, Sarah Beth Petersen initially identified herself as the driver at the crash scene. However, a conversation between the sisters, captured by the squad car audio, revealed their discussion about law enforcement being unable to differentiate between them.

During the conversation, Sarah is heard saying, “I think that one of the guys is on to me, but I don’t really care…” and “there’s no way they would ever know the difference between the two of us, so they can’t tell.”

Subsequently, Sarah Beth Petersen expressed that she didn’t believe she had done anything wrong but acknowledged hitting someone and causing a fatality, stating that she would have to live with the consequences for the rest of her life. She later requested to speak to an attorney, and her phone was seized for evidence.

Meanwhile, Samantha Jo Petersen asked to retrieve an ID from under the floor mat of the silver SUV involved in the crash. During the process, a deputy noticed burnt marijuana blunts and a small tin can commonly used for holding marijuana inside the vehicle. The silver SUV was later towed and thoroughly examined. Notably, a red T-shirt and a black smock worn by Hy-Vee employees were found inside the vehicle.

It was revealed that both sisters were employed by Hy-Vee, according to court documents. Samantha had punched out for work at 7:47 a.m. on September 25, 2023, and later texted the company’s Human Resources, admitting that she was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the crash. Samantha Jo Petersen also confessed, saying, “I f—– up. I just killed two Amish people.”

The criminal complaint further states that Samantha had exchanged messages with another person, confessing to hitting the Amish buggy and intentionally making Sarah take the blame to avoid imprisonment.

Minnesota State Patrol conducted an investigation into the crash and determined that the silver Toyota 4Runner SUV was traveling between 63 mph and 71 mph, exceeding the speed limit of 55 mph on County Road 1. The road conditions were clear, with no obstructions, for approximately 1,452 feet before the collision occurred.

Shortly after the crash, both Samantha and Sarah Petersen relocated from their Spring Valley residence to the Kellogg area in Minnesota, as stated in court documents. Currently, Sarah Petersen is not facing any charges related to the incident.

This tragic accident serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of impaired driving and the importance of responsible and sober operation of vehicles. The case against Samantha Jo Petersen will proceed through the legal system, seeking justice for the victims and their grieving families.

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– Charges filed in Amish buggy crash
– Amish buggy crash that killed children.