(KNSI) – The Orono man accused of causing a deadly car crash that killed two people, including the son of Former St. Cloud State University Hockey Coach Bob Motzko, is facing new charges.
On Thursday, 51-year-old James Blue was charged with two counts of third-degree murder. Blue was allegedly driving a speeding car that crashed in Orono back in July, killing 20-year-old Mack Motzko and 24-year-old Sam Schuneman. Blue was previously charged with four counts of criminal vehicular homicide.
He’s accused of drinking and taking THC edibles at a party before the crash. Blue could face up to 50 years in prison. Each count of criminal vehicular homicide has a maximum sentence of 10 years, and he could face up to 25 years for each murder charge.
According to the criminal complaint, Orono police responded to a crash and found two men inside a car. Police say Blue, the driver, had been ejected. The amended complaint said Blue’s blood alcohol concentration was .20 at the time of the crash, and there was THC in his blood.
Investigators say Blue was driving between 94 and 99 mph in a 35-to-45 mph area. Court records say that Motzko and Schuneman had just met Blue that night and were invited to his home by a mutual friend.
Motzko graduated from St. Cloud Cathedral High School in 2020. His father coached the SCSU men’s hockey team for 13 years before taking over as the University of Minnesota’s coach in 2018.
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