Crime & Safety

Teen Who Caused Fatal Car Crash Ordered to Speak About Distracted Driving

Christopher J. Schneider, 19, blew a stop sign and t-boned another car, killing the driver and passenger.

A teen was given 30 days in jail and ordered to spend time talking about distracted driving after causing a crash that killed a senior-citizen couple as they left a county fair in southern Minnesota.

Christopher J. Schneider, 19, of Lake Crystal, admitted to blowing a stop sign in July 2015 outside the Blue Earth County Fair in Garden City and t-boning another vehicle heading north on Hwy. 169.

Roderick M. Elbert, 74, and his wife, Kathy E. Ohman, 75, both died at the scene.

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The Star Tribune reported that Schneider's sentence allows for release from jail to attend school. Schneider also was ordered to speak at gatherings 30 times about distracted driving.

Schneider said he smoked synthetic marijuana the night before the crash, was playing music from his phone, and was putting out his cigarette at the time of the fatal crash.

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Schneider will pay $452 in fines and fees, and is on probation until September 2017.

Read more at the Star Tribune.

Image via Shutterstock

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