MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 21-year-old man has been charged with striking and killing a pedestrian in Rogers in May, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
Benjamin Witte faces two felony counts of criminal vehicular homicide operation in connection to the May 25, 2013 incident.
Authorities say that an accident reconstruction indicates that Witte was traveling southbound on Rogers Drive when the vehicle drifted into the northbound lanes and struck a pedestrian. The adult male victim was traveling on the northbound shoulder of the road. He died from suffering severe head injuries.
A blood test revealed the presence of marijuana in Witte’s system at the time of the crash. Officers also found drug paraphernalia, including a glass pipe and plastic baggies at the scene of the crash.
“The driver of the vehicle admitted he smoked marijuana earlier in the day, and a blood test confirmed the drug was in his system. This type of behavior can have deadly consequences, and in this instance it did,” Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek said.
Witte is currently not in custody and is scheduled to appear in court.
