MN Driver, 27, Had A .22 BAC In Crash That Killed His Friend: Feds

MINNEAPOLIS — A Red Lake man was sentenced Wednesday to over five years in prison after a drunk-driving crash that killed his passenger, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced.

Gerald W. Johnson, 27, was convicted of one count of involuntary manslaughter in the deadly single-car collision.

The passenger who died was Johnson's lifelong friend, Regina M. Rushman of Ponemah, the Star Tribune reported.

On Nov. 6, 2021, Johnson was driving his vehicle while intoxicated with a passenger in the front seat, authorities said.

Johnson was driving well over 90 miles per hour on a public road within the Red Lake Indian Reservation with a posted speed limit of 20 miles per hour, investigators said.

While "speeding and driving recklessly," Johnson failed to handle a curve, jumped the curb, and crashed his vehicle into a tree, severely damaging the entire right side of his vehicle, according to authorities.

Rushman was ejected from the vehicle and died from her injuries caused by the crash.

Investigators found several bottles of alcohol from inside and outside of Johnson’s totaled vehicle, and his blood draw after the crash revealed a blood alcohol content of .224, investigators said.