A driver attempting a U-turn on Interstate 494 in Bloomington while allegedly impaired by alcohol triggered a multi-vehicle crash that left another man dead.
Seth Rylee Timmers, 25, of Bloomington, faces two counts of criminal vehicular homicide, one for operating a vehicle with negligence while under the influence of alcohol and another for driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, according to charges filed Wednesday in Hennepin County District Court.
According to the complaint, Minnesota State Patrol troopers responded to a crash on westbound I-494 near Highway 100 at about 4:19 a.m. on June 13. Officers arrived to find a white Jeep Grand Cherokee with heavy front-end damage on the left shoulder, a black Honda CRV with significant driver’s side damage on the right shoulder, and a FedEx tractor trailer stopped further down the highway.
The victim, who had been driving the Jeep, was found deceased in the westbound lanes after being ejected from his vehicle.
Troopers identified Timmers as the driver of the Honda CRV. He was being extracted from his vehicle by the fire department and appeared confused about his location. Officers noted signs of alcohol impairment, including bloodshot, watery eyes, lethargy, dilated pupils and a strong odor of alcohol. Timmers admitted to drinking earlier at a Minneapolis bar.
A preliminary breath test at the scene showed Timmers’ blood alcohol concentration at .141. Due to his injuries, additional field sobriety tests were not performed. Timmers was arrested and transported to a hospital, where a blood sample was collected under warrant. The state alleges that the blood test will confirm a BAC of .08 or higher within two hours of driving.
Crash reconstruction determined that Timmers, while driving the Honda CRV, attempted a U-turn on westbound I-494, which would have put his vehicle traveling the wrong way. As he veered into traffic, the victim’s Jeep struck the Honda CRV on the driver’s side. The FedEx truck, also westbound, then collided with the disabled Jeep, causing the victim to be ejected from his vehicle.
The state has requested a rush warrant, citing public safety concerns and the need to ensure Timmers’ appearance in court.
About This Charge
Minnesota charges criminal vehicular homicide under § 609.2112, a felony carrying up to 10 years in prison when a driver causes a death through negligence, intoxication or other qualifying conduct. Criminal vehicular operation causing injury is charged separately under § 609.2113, with penalties that scale to the degree of bodily harm. These offenses are distinct from murder and manslaughter, which require proof of a different mental state.
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Jurisdictional Context
Hennepin County is Minnesota’s most populous jurisdiction. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office handles felony prosecutions across Minneapolis and 45 surrounding cities; the Fourth Judicial District presides over felony arraignments and trials at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
