Charges: Man had meth in system during chase, fatal wrong-way crash
A St. Paul man has now been charged in connection to a stolen car police chase that ended in a fatal crash in Anoka County this summer.
Charging documents state that 41-year-old Joseph Mario Cady had meth in his system when he led police on a chase on July 11.
The chase ended when Cady drove the stolen Kia Forte into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a Lincoln MKX sedan.
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The impact caused the Kia and Lincoln to burst into flames. While Cady survived his injuries, his passenger, 30-year-old Jessica Lynn Sellers, died a short time later.
Authorities say the driver of the Lincoln suffered several injuries, including cracked ribs, a broken foot and toe, cuts and other trauma, but survived. However, one of the dogs in the Lincoln died and the other suffered severe injuries.
According to a criminal complaint, the chase started after law enforcement was called on a shoplifting report. Employees passed along the suspect’s vehicle description and authorities saw and tried to stop it a short time later.
Cady was driving the stolen car between 79 mph and 86 mph in a 50 mph zone at the time of the collision with the Lincoln.
Cady was formally charged via warrant Thursday with criminal vehicular homicide, criminal vehicular operation, fleeing police and receiving stolen property. If convicted of the highest charge, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
As of Friday, he wasn’t yet in custody.