Henderson man charged with injuring passenger after crashing motorcycle under the influence

A Henderson man is accused of crashing his motorcycle on Highway 169 while under the influence of alcohol and injuring a passenger.

Joseph Edward Robling, 27, is charged with felony criminal vehicular operation for causing substantial bodily harm under the influence of alcohol, a gross misdemeanor third degree DWI, gross misdemeanor failure to notice of personal injury and three petty misdemeanors in relation to driving with an expired permit.

The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a reported motorcycle crash at approximately 11:45 p.m. on northbound Highway 169 and Highway 19 in Le Sueur County. The caller said the motorcycle was in a ditch on the exit ramp with debris scattered about, but the driver was nowhere to be found.

On the scene, law enforcement observed scrape marks on the pavement leading into the grass shoulder for roughly 200 feet. A chevron sign in the shoulder appeared to be hit and the motorcycle was found 100 feet in the ditch with scrape marks.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Office learned of a patient at St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee who had been in a motorcycle crash and State Patrol proceeded to meet with Robling in his hospital room.

According to the charges, Robling said he was taking a turn off Highway 169 at approximately 25-30 miles per hour when his female passenger shifter her weight and caused him to crash at approximately 8:30 p.m. When asked why he did not report the crash, Robling said his friends were right there and he just had them bring him in.

The responding officer reported smelling alcohol on Robling’s breath and observed his eyes to be bloodshot and watery. Law enforcement executed a search warrant for a blood sample, which found Robling had a blood alcohol content of .07 five hours after the crash.

The female passenger had multiple noticeable injuries including deep road rashes on her chin and her knee which were covered in clear bandages.