Man faces criminal vehicular homicide charges for fatal wrong-way crash

By KSTP

Michael Morse booking photo (Courtesy: Scott County Jail)

A man arrested after a wrong-way crash in Saint Lawrence Township near Jordan early Sunday morning now faces charges of criminal vehicular homicide, according to a criminal complaint filed in Scott County.

Michael Morse, 35-years-old, was charged with criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation after a passenger in the other vehicle was pronounced dead at the hospital. Two other occupants in that vehicle suffered serious injuries that required surgeries.

Calls of a wrong-way vehicle heading north in the southbound lanes of Highway 169 near Delaware Avenue were first received by the Minnesota State Patrol at about 3:20 a.m. Sunday followed shortly by calls of a head-on collision.

Morse was identified by a responding trooper as the driver of a Ford Explorer that was traveling the wrong way. The trooper said he immediately noticed a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from Morse, and that Morse had bloodshot watery eyes.

The complaint states that Morse admitted to consuming three rum and cokes about 30 to 45 minutes before driving.

The document also states that Morse told officers he was driving to a friend’s house to stay overnight as he was scheduled to work early in the morning.

Morse is quoted saying “I live in downtown Minneapolis, so I was driving there and all of a sudden I see headlights coming down at me and that was that.” It was noted that Morse’s speech was slow and slurred. At that point, it appeared he believed he was heading south in the southbound lanes.

Officers then observed that Morse exhibited several signs of impairment and blew higher than .08 alcohol concentration after a breath test. He also admitted to having marijuana in his pocket, and officers recovered about two grams along with multiple pipes. Morse then admitted to smoking marijuana before driving.

Morse was arrested and a blood draw was taken to be sent to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for analysis.

His next court appearance is set for July 26, 2022.