MOORHEAD, Minn. -- An Indiana man was sentenced in Clay County District Court on Monday, Nov., 14, to time served in connection with a deadly January crash on Interstate 94 near Barnesville.
Derrick E. Pierce, of Anderson, Ind., earlier pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide for operating a vehicle in a negligent manner on Jan. 17, when the car he was driving drove into the back of a semi on I-94.
Pierce and a back-seat passenger in the car were injured in the crash and a front-seat passenger, David T. Hinkle, of Anderson, died at the scene.
After the crash, Pierce told a Minnesota State Patrol trooper that he had smoked methamphetamines the day before the crash and that he thought he might have fallen asleep behind the wheel, according to court documents.
Pierce was sentenced to 299 days in jail, which he has already served, and was ordered to undergo a chemical dependency assessment.
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Clay County Attorney Brian Melton said Pierce, who has no permanent address, will remain in custody until the assessment is completed and a review hearing is held.
