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Dog Blamed for Fatal Crash, Driver Faces Charges
4 Jun
Summary
- Woman claims dog caused fatal crash by grabbing steering wheel.
- Victim was 82-year-old Barbara Lee Welberg, died at scene.
- Driver faces vehicular homicide and DWI charges; drug test pending.
On May 29, a fatal car accident occurred on Highway 11 in Roseau, Minnesota, resulting in the death of 82-year-old Barbara Lee Welberg. The incident involved a head-on collision with a vehicle driven by Shauna Rae Dokken, 43.
Dokken allegedly told authorities that her dog interfered with her driving by grabbing the steering wheel while seeking a treat. She reported losing control, hitting the highway shoulder, and spinning into Welberg's car, which overturned.
Authorities observed that Dokken had slurred speech but did not test positive for alcohol. She reportedly admitted to consuming Adderall and lorazepam earlier on the day of the crash. Her partner indicated to officers that Dokken had a history of misusing these medications. A blood test is currently pending.
Dokken faces multiple charges, including criminal vehicular homicide and DWI while under the influence of a controlled substance. She was on probation for an unrelated case at the time of the incident. Dokken is currently in custody at the Roseau County Jail with bail set at $200,000 and a probation violation hearing scheduled for June 10.
