Passenger Killed After Driver Drifts From Roadway & Crashes; Alcohol Involved

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Minnesota State Patrol says alcohol was involved in a crash that resulted in the death of a 42-year-old Hutchinson woman early Tuesday morning.

According to the state patrol, a 2012 Chevrolet Captiva was traveling westbound on Highway 7 near Oxford Avenue in Watertown Township at around 3:47 a.m. when it started driving off the roadway. The vehicle drifted to the left side where it met a driveway and then vaulted into a tree.

The passenger, identified as Nikole Beneke, was killed in the crash. She was not wearing a seat belt.

The driver, identified as 40-year-old Jonathan Burge of Minneapolis, suffered non-life threatening injuries. He was wearing a seat belt.

According to the state patrol, Burge had alcohol in his system.

No word on if Burge has been arrested in connection to the incident.