A Kelliher woman has been sentenced to 58 months in prison for causing an accident that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Jennifer Ann Stewart of Tenstrike.
Teresa Lynn Salmonson, 36, pleaded guilty Feb. 6 in Beltrami County District Court to charges of criminal vehicular operation resulting in death and first-degree DWI. Both are felony charges.
District Judge Shari Schluchter administered the 58-month prison sentence in court on Monday. Salmonson will receive credit for 88 days already spent in jail. She is also required to pay a $50 fine.
At 1 a.m. on Feb. 10, 2005, Salmonson was driving a 1992 Pontiac north on U.S. Highway 71 near Turtle River when she drove over the center line and collided with a southbound 1998 Toyota driven by Stewart.
Stewart was found unconscious at the scene of the accident. She was transported to North Country Regional Hospital in Bemidji and later airlifted to MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, N.D.
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Doctors there determined that Stewart suffered two broken legs, a broken back, multiple facial fractures, lacerations and severe brain injury as a result of the crash. She was transferred to a health care center in Red Wing where she remained in a coma until her death on March 20.
Salmonson and three passengers in Stewart's vehicle were also treated for injuries suffered during the collision.
A urine test taken shortly after the crash determined that Salmonson's alcohol concentration was .19, nearly twice the legal driving limit of .10. The legal blood alcohol limit in Minnesota has since changed to .08.
Records show that Salmonson's driving privileges were canceled at the time of the accident due to three prior DWI convictions within the past 10 years.
