Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison for Crash That Killed 8-Year-Old Girl

A 49-year-old man has been sentenced to more than four years (57 months) in prison for his involvement in a tragic crash that resulted in the death of an 8-year-old girl who was riding her bike in August 2022.

Joseph Ray Jacobson admitted guilt to one count of criminal vehicular homicide in October, leading to the dismissal of a second count of the same charge.

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The incident took place around 8 p.m. on August 22, 2022, at the intersection of Dakota Trail and Orion Road in Prior Lake, situated on the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Reservation.

According to reports, the victim, Chyanne Rios, had requested permission from her mother to ride her bike to a nearby convenience store. The mother agreed but decided to follow Chyanne in her car to keep an eye on her.

An official criminal complaint stated that as Chyanne was crossing the intersection, Jacobson, driving a GMC Denali, disregarded a stop sign and collided with her.

During questioning by law enforcement, Jacobson claimed that the child appeared suddenly and unexpectedly in front of his vehicle. When asked about his cellphone use at the time of the crash, Jacobson admitted, “I think I was.”

Surveillance footage revealed that the Denali did not slow down or stop at the intersection as required by law. Furthermore, a blood test conducted on Jacobson indicated the presence of methamphetamine in his system.