Guilty Plea Made In I-35W Crash That Killed Burnsville Woman

BURNSVILLE, MN — Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom announced that James Robert Lapsley, 21, of Prior Lake, pled guilty Monday to one count of criminal vehicular homicide (gross negligence) in connection with a single vehicle crash on Interstate 35W in Burnsville.

The May 26, 2018 collision killed 19-year-old Kayli Thompson of Burnsville. Judge Shawn Moynihan set the sentencing for Feb. 24.

On May 26, 2018 around 7:30 a.m., law enforcement was dispatched to a crash on I-35W near County Road 42 in Burnsville on a report of a Ford Fusion with heavy front-end damage.

A woman was trapped inside the vehicle. Officers arrived and located the Fusion, which had hit a sound barrier wall and sustained extensive damage.

Tire tracks showed the Fusion had veered off the interstate and crashed into the barrier wall. Lapsley, 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 stated that he had been driving south on I-35W when he observed the Fusion driving erratically and at a high rate of speed. He reported that the Fusion nearly hit the median barrier at least twice and was not maintaining 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.

Emergency medical personnel arrived and attempted to provide aid. However, her injuries were fatal and she died at the scene.

Officers spoke to Lapsley and observed him to have bloodshot, glassy eyes and slurred speech. A search warrant was executed for a sample of Lapsley’s blood, which later tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), according to police.

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

"We are pleased this individual has taken responsibility for this tragic crime which claimed a life in our community," Backstrom said in a news release.