A pickup driver rammed another vehicle multiple times on a Goodhue County highway before leading officers on a high-speed chase that ended with the truck plunging into the Zumbro River, according to charges.
Nicholas Tyler Oskey, 31, of Zumbrota, faces six charges: fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, two counts of driving while intoxicated, possession of metal knuckles or a switch blade, reckless driving and failing to stop after a collision involving another vehicle. The charges were filed July 27 in Goodhue County District Court.
According to the complaint, just after midnight on July 25, dispatchers received calls about a truck repeatedly ramming another vehicle near the intersection of Highway 52 and Highway 57. Officers heard what sounded like a crash in the background of the calls and responded to the area, where additional reports described more crashes involving a pickup.
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As an officer approached mile marker 82, he saw a semi-tractor and a dark pickup with heavy front-end damage in the grass median. The officer spotted a man trying to climb onto the semi, but when the officer arrived, the man jumped back into the pickup and sped off southbound on Highway 52. The officer pursued the pickup, which drove erratically at high speed, turned onto Sherwood Trail, fishtailed on the gravel and then returned to the highway, continuing to evade police.
A semi driver blocked the road ahead, forcing the pickup into the grass median, where it continued south until it plunged into the Zumbro River. Officers saw the driver, later identified as Oskey, exit the submerged truck and held him at gunpoint until backup arrived. Oskey was arrested without further incident.
Officers noted Oskey had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Oskey denied drinking or using drugs, claimed to have blacked out and blamed his condition on PTSD. Field sobriety tests showed multiple signs of impairment, and Oskey’s preliminary breath test measured .186. A later breath test at the police station measured .17.
Oskey told officers he was the only person in the truck. Officers also found the pickup had tinted windows, making it difficult to see inside at the scene.
A court date has not yet been set.
About This Charge
Minnesota’s dangerous-weapons statute, § 609.66, prohibits manufacturing, selling or possessing items the law defines as dangerous weapons, including metal knuckles and switchblade knives. Penalties vary by the specific subdivision charged and prior criminal history.
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