1. Walker hit by drunk driver at Rochester intersection
2. Pedestrian struck by suspected intoxicated driver in Rochester intersection.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) – The Olmsted County Attorney’s Office has pressed charges against a driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol when he collided with a pedestrian at a busy intersection in downtown Rochester.
The incident took place on a Wednesday morning, with the formal charges filed in Olmsted County Court the following day. According to the complaint, authorities found an empty beer can and an open case of beer inside the suspect’s vehicle. Rochester Police officers who responded to the scene discovered the victim sitting in the roadway.
The collision between the pickup truck and the pedestrian occurred just before 8 a.m. at the intersection of 1st St. and Civic Center Dr. Northeast. The pedestrian reported that she was crossing Civic Center Dr. from west to east when the pickup struck her left side, causing her to fall to the ground.
The driver, identified as 36-year-old Sean Allen Dyrdahl, then exited his vehicle and expressed remorse to the injured woman, as per the complaint. A witness informed the police that the pickup made a left turn onto northbound Civic Center Dr. from 1st St., abruptly stopping at the crosswalk and straddling both lanes.
The victim sustained visible scrapes on her left arm, a swollen right wrist, and complained of back pain before she was taken by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital, the charges revealed. Her current condition remains unknown at the time of the filing of the complaint.
During questioning, officers detected the smell of alcohol on Dyrdahl’s breath and noticed the presence of an empty beer can in the truck bed, along with an open case of beer in the back of the truck, according to court documents. Field sobriety tests conducted at the scene indicated signs of impairment, with a preliminary breath test registering his blood-alcohol level at 0.173, the charges stated.
Dyrdahl was subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, and law enforcement obtained a warrant to draw a blood sample for further testing. He faces charges of two counts of gross misdemeanor criminal vehicular operation, two counts of gross misdemeanor DWI, and one count of driving without insurance.
Court records indicate that Dyrdahl has a prior conviction for driving while intoxicated. He is scheduled for arraignment on the charges on Friday morning.
In a separate development, take a nostalgic trip back to downtown Rochester in 2005 with a collection of photos showcasing the city’s evolving landscape. The images capture the significant changes that have shaped the downtown area over the years.
Gallery Credit: Andy Brownell..
– Walker hit suspected drunk driver Rochester intersection
– Suspected drunk driver hits walker Rochester intersection.
