Shakopee Man Charged In Hit-&-Run That Severely Injured Man
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 26-year-old Shakopee man has been charged with hitting a pedestrian in Minneapolis while driving drunk and fleeing the scene.
Kaleb Joseph Conway was charged with a felony count of criminal vehicular operation and a gross misdemeanor count of second-degree driving while impaired (refusal to submit to chemical test) in connection with the hit-and-run accident on Lake Street, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office announced Thursday.
The incident happened around 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 1.
According to witnesses, Conway had four alcoholic drinks at Merlin's Rest Pub on 3601 E. Lake St. and then left with a friend to get something to eat. When they accidentally passed the restaurant they wanted to stop at, Conway made a U-turn, the complaint said.
Near the area of 2726 E. Lake St., Conway's car struck the victim, Luis Cruz-Guzman, as he was crossing Lake Street.
A nearby off-duty Minneapolis police officer heard the collision, saw Conway's car taking off with the man lying in the street and gave chase. Conway pulled over after a few blocks.
Conway then refused to take a urine or blood test for alcohol, so a search warrant needed to be obtained for blood to be taken. The results of the test have not been returned to police as of yet.
If convicted, Conway could face up to five years in prison for the criminal vehicular operation charge and up to one year for the second-degree driving while impaired charge.
Cruz-Guzman remains in the hospital with a skull fracture and a severe brain injury.