Alcohol possibly a factor in July 19 fatal Highway 10 crash

by Jim Boyle

Editor

A pair of out-of-state travelers in a 2011 Kia Soul were turning onto Gary Street from the turn lane on westbound Highway 10 on the afternoon of July 19 when their vehicle collided with a BMW X6 SUV that had been eastbound on Highway 10.

Ashley Cheyenne Jones, a 36-year-old woman from Mountain Ranch, California, who was a passenger in the Kia, died at the scene of the crash.

Chase Allen Bosshardt, a 32-year-old man from Toquerville, Utah, was taken to Mercy Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Bossahardt, the driver of the Kia, was believed to have been drinking, according to the report filed by the Minnesota State Patrol.

The three occupants of the BMW were all taken to Mercy Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, including the 46-year-old driver Jemarquis Lovon Echols from Afton, Minnesota.

The passengers in the BMW were Elliana Clara Echols, a 17-year-old from Afton, and Jennifer Marie Reich, a 45-year-old Stillwater woman.

An officer with the Elk River Police Department was traveling westbound on Highway 10 at the time of the crash. After crossing the bridge over Lake Orono, a large cloud of dirt and debris filled the air in front of the officer’s view, according to an incident complaint report filed by the officer.

The officer also observed two vehicles go off into the south ditch near the intersection of Gary Street, and the officer notified dispatch at about 3:39 p.m. on July 19, the incident report stated.

Members of the Elk River Police Department, Elk River Fire Department, Elk River Ambulance, the Minnesota State Patrol and the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office responded.

The Minnesota State Patrol is the primary agency and was assisted in the investigation by the Elk River Police Department and the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office.

The Minnesota State Patrol continues to investigate the crash, and is waiting on the results of a blood test.