Truck driver pleads guilty

ST. CLOUD (AP) -- A Madelia truck driver pleaded guilty in a crash that killed a Cold Spring woman last summer.

Under a plea agreement, Ronald Larsen, 47, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of criminal vehicular homicide and a lesser count of negligence in exchange for two other counts being dropped.

According to the criminal complaint, Larsen failed to stop at a red light in Waite Park, then rear-ended a car, killing the driver, Jennifer Erkens, 20.

Records show Larsen had a preliminary blood-alcohol level of 0.052 percent. A commercial truck driver is considered over the legal limit at 0.04 percent.

Under the agreement, Larsen will spend just over a year in a county jail, perform 800 hours of community service involving drinking and driving education, and be on probation for 13 years.

Erkens, a student at the College of St. Benedict, died when her car burst into flames. The driver of another car was hurt in the crash.