Fauchald provides statement on recent highway fatalities

ITASCA COUNTY— At Tuesday’s Itasca County Board meeting, County Attorney Jake Fauchald provided an update from his office on two separate and recent deaths of walking-pedestrians struck by vehicles on Highway 169.

Fauchald says the investigations into both matters are not yet complete and his office will make a decision on criminal charges after the investigations are completed and reviewed.

The Minnesota State Patrol identified Dakota Kimberly Jones, age 14 on Monday, after she was fatally-struck in Coleraine early Monday morning. This incident occurred less than three weeks after Carter John Haithcock was also fatally-struck on Highway 169, in Nashwauk.

Fauchald says the investigations are on-going.