Charges Filed In Crash That Killed 19-Year-Old Burnsville Woman

BURNSVILLE, MN — James Robert Lapsley, 21, of Prior Lake, whose girlfriend died after the car he was driving crashed on Interstate 35 last year, has been charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said Wednesday.

Kayli Thompson, 19, of Burnsville, a passenger in Lapsley's car, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on I-35W near County Road 42 in Burnsville around 7:30 a.m. on May 26, 2018. She was trapped inside the Ford Fusion, which sustained heavy front-end damage, authorities said.

The Fusion had hit a sound barrier and tracks at the scene showed the vehicle had veered off the interstate and crashed into the wall, according to authorities.

Lapsley, who was already out of the Fusion, was bleeding from his knee and had scrapes on his arms and legs. He admitted to driving, police said.

A witness who was with Lapsley when officers arrived said he saw the Fusion driving erratically and at a high rate of speed. The witness reported that the Fusion nearly hit the median barrier at least twice and was not staying in its lane.

The Fusion drove past him out of view and he next saw it in the ditch to the right of I-35W after he came to the top of a hill, the witness told authorities.

Officers spoke to Lapsley and noticed he had bloodshot, glassy eyes and slurred speech, according to authorities.

Lapsley’s blood tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), according to a news release.

It was determined from the accident reconstruction that the Fusion was traveling at approximately 83 miles per hour when it hit the barrier wall, police said.