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Cokato man, 21, charged in crash that killed 3

Photo: Comstock, Photos.com

Aug 21, 2012 at 7:01 am

WILLMAR, MN (AP) - A 21-year-old Cokato man is charged in connection with a crash that killed three people from the same family.

Paul Wickenhauser faces three counts of criminal vehicular homicide and one count of criminal vehicular injury. He's due to make his first court appearance Tuesday in Kandiyohi County.

The head-on crash happened around 9 p.m. Friday along U.S. Highway 12 near Kandiyohi.

According to the charges, Wickenhauser told police he had been drinking.

The crash killed 68-year-old Marta Stoffers of Atwater; her daughter-in-law, 40-year-old Michelle Hoffman of Eden Prairie; and Hoffman's 8-year-old daughter, Julia. Another child was injured.

Wickenhauser's attorney, Lynne Torgerson, says Wickenhauser and his family are sorry for the Hoffmans' loss. She says the victims' family is in their thoughts and prayers.