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Dad charged in fatal ice accident

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Feb 7, 2013 at 4:59 pm

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (AP) A suburban Minneapolis man is charged with a felony for allegedly driving drunk when the family's SUV plunged through the ice on Lake Minnetonka, killing his baby daughter last month.

Hennepin County prosecutors charged 41-year-old Jonathan Markle of Minnetrista Thursday with one count of criminal vehicular homicide.

According to the complaint, Markle told police he had two beers at a restaurant before driving on the ice Jan. 18. The SUV went through the ice with Markle's 8-month-old daughter Tabitha strapped in the backseat.

Markle, his wife and their 2-year-old daughter were able to escape. Firefighters pulled the baby from the SUV, but she died at a hospital. Her death was ruled an accidental drowning.

Markle is scheduled to appear in court Friday. His attorney, Joe Friedberg, had no comment Thursday.