St. Cloud Man Charged Following Crash that Seriously Injured Himself and his Passenger

(KNSI) — A St. Cloud man is facing criminal charges after a rollover crash on Interstate 94 seriously injured his passenger.

According to the criminal complaint, around 6:00 a.m. on January 17th, a State Patrol trooper responded to a crash on I-94 in Albertville and found the 25-year-old passenger pinned under a 2014 Chevy Traverse that had flipped upside down and landed against a fence along the highway. The passenger was unconscious but breathing and was rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center for treatment of life-threatening injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt. Investigators say tire tracks showed the vehicle left the interstate and rolled into the ditch.

Deputies reported smelling alcohol coming from the driver, 20-year-old Abdirizck Hussein Ali, and his passenger. Ali, who was also injured, denied drinking and refused a breath test. A search warrant was later obtained for a blood draw, and state lab testing detected drugs in his system. Authorities say impairment and negligent driving caused the crash.

Prosecutors charged Ali with criminal vehicular operation resulting in substantial bodily harm.

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