LITCHFIELD — A 39-year-old woman has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide following a fatal rollover crash on Minnesota Highway 22 on May 13.
Danielle Rayanne Truelove was identified as the driver of a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu that left the roadway at approximately 9:51 p.m. in Greenleaf Township. Passenger Laura Ashley Keller, 40, of Hutchinson, was killed in the incident; authorities confirmed she was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, according to a Minnesota State Patrol crash report.
Truelove made her first court appearance on two felony counts of criminal vehicular homicide on Friday. She was released from Meeker County Jail on Monday after posting a $25,000 conditional bond. Conditions of her release include no alcohol or drug use and electronic monitoring. Her next hearing is scheduled for July 30.
According to the criminal complaint, Meeker County Sheriff’s Office deputies were performing CPR on Keller when a State Patrol trooper arrived. Keller, who had been ejected from the vehicle, was later pronounced dead at the scene near the highway intersection with 180th Street.
Truelove was found nearby, injured and appearing intoxicated, and initially claimed she was not driving the vehicle. A preliminary breath test indicated a blood alcohol concentration of 0.132 percent, surpassing the legal limit of 0.08 percent in Minnesota.
She was airlifted to CentraCare — St. Cloud Hospital for severe injuries. Investigation details revealed the vehicle drifted from the northbound lane, crossing the center line before rolling multiple times at a high rate of speed.
The investigation is ongoing, with blood samples collected for analysis by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.