Wrong Way Driver Who Hit Trooper Head On Pleads Guilty

(KNSI) — The driver who hit a Minnesota State Trooper head-on on Highway 10 last month is pleading guilty.

The criminal complaint says at 10:45 p.m. on September 29th; someone called to report 22-year-old Trevor Reiter of Sauk Rapids driving west in the eastbound lanes near Rice. The trooper activated his red lights and sirens and tried to stop Reiter, but he kept going. Eventually, stop sticks were used, and Reiter did slow down but continued driving the wrong way. Another trooper, with his red lights and sirens activated, got into Reiter’s path and took the crash head-on as Reiter was driving between 35 and 45 miles an hour. The trooper was taken to the hospital for pain in his lower body. He was evaluated and released.

Investigators at the scene said Reiter smelled strongly of alcohol, appeared disoriented, and was having trouble walking. So much so that troopers needed to help him stand. He blew a .229 on a preliminary breath test and was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of injuries.

Reiter was charged with two counts of criminal vehicular operation and one count of driving while impaired. He pled guilty to one count of criminal vehicular operation and is set to be sentenced on November 17th.

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