Golden Valley Man Guilty Of Fatal High-Speed, Drunk Driving Crash

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Golden Valley man was found guilty Tuesday of killing a young Minneapolis couple while driving drunk at over 100 mph two years ago.

Philip Scott Bertelsen, 56, was convicted of criminal vehicular homicide in connection with the deaths of Brandy Banks-Sutta and Melvin Jones on Nov. 3, 2013.

Bertelsen smashed into the back of their vehicle, which was stopped at a red light at Olson Memorial Highway and Morgan Avenue North, killing them instantly.

Investigators say he hit them while traveling about 95 miles per hour, and he was driving as fast as 107 miles per hour in the moments leading up to the fatal crash.

He had a blood-alcohol level of .18, which is twice the legal limit.

Bertelsen's sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 6.

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