Charges: Driver's Blood Alcohol Content Was .29 When He Crashed Into Stillwater Nursing Home

The man who crashed a stolen SUV through the wall of the Golden Living Center Sunday morning had a blood alcohol content more than three times the legal limit, according to police.

Brian Paul Willingham was charged by the Washington County Attorney's Office on Wednesday with second-degree DWI and theft of a motor vehicle--taken without the owner's consent.

Stillwater police believe Willingham, 31, was traveling between 40-50 mph on Olive Street Sunday morning when he hit a pickup truck, drove across Greeley, jumped the curb, swerved right to miss a large tree and crashed through the wall of a nursing home.

When police arrived on the scene, Willingham allegedly told the officer, “I (explicative) up … “A little tipsy.”

His blood alcohol content tested to be .29, according to an Intoxilyzer test administered by police shortly after the crash.

Officers believe Willingham never hit the brakes prior to crashing into the building.

A 78-year-old man was slightly injured as a result of the crash. He was treated for minor scrapes and bruises and released back to the nursing home.

Willingham lives part of the time in Rochester, but was staying at his girlfriend’s house in Stillwater on the night of the crash, according to the police report.

Willingham’s girlfriend told police that the couple was watching a movie earlier that night and she fell asleep at about 8 p.m. When the woman woke up, she noticed that her vehicle was missing.

The woman told police she never gave Willingham permission to drive her vehicle.

UPDATED FROM: Sunday 9:30 a.m.

Willingham was arrested early Sunday after he struck two vehicles

A vehicle struck a building at Golden Living Center on Greeley Street early Sunday, leaving a resident with minor injuries.

The vehicle's driver was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated,  Stillwater Police Sgt. Jeff Magler said.

It happened at about 1 a.m. Sunday, according to Magler. The vehicle was traveling eastbound on Olive Street and hit a parked vehicle before reaching the intersection with Greeley Street. The driver lost control and ran into the nursing home.

According to the Washington County Jail report, a 31-year-old Stillwater man was arrested and jailed shortly after the crash on suspicion of felony possession of a stolen vehicle, second-degree DWI, a gross misdemeanor traffic offense and third-degree DWI. According to the booking report, the man was taken to detox early this morning.

Jennifer Schoenecker, the executive director of Golden LivingCenter - Greeley released the following statement Sunday afternoon:

"We reacted quickly to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our residents when a vehicle crashed into our building at approximately 1 a.m. Sunday. The vehicle knocked out a window and broke through the wall of a resident room.

One of the room's two occupants was taken to the hospital emergency room where he was treated for cuts and released back to our LivingCenter. The other resident was not injured.

Both residents are doing well, and have been moved to a different location in our LivingCenter.

Because the damage to the room was significant, we do not yet know when the repairs will be completed. The room has been closed off for safety, and the hole in the wall is being boarded up for security and for protection from the elements.

We are cooperating with the police and assisting them with their investigation into this matter. In addition, we have reported this incident to the state Department of Health, as required."

According to Twin Cities Incident Report, Lakeview Hospital Emergency Medical Service requested an additional ambulance from Oakdale.

The vehicle was towed from the scene, Magler said.