Kanabec County, MN — A 17-year old boy was killed in a car accident in Kanabec County, Minnesota, on Monday, February 9, 2015. The accident took place on County Road 28, near Bass Lake.
According to news reports, Nelson was with his sister Kalyn Nelson and friend Benjamin Dombroske. Nelson was driving at the time. As they were traveling, a pickup truck being driven by Charles Hendricks reportedly crossed the road’s center line and collided with their vehicle.
Nelson was killed in the accident. Emergency workers transported Kalyn Nelson and Dombroske to Essentia Health-Sandstone. Reports say that Hendricks was taken to North Memorial Medical Center. He’s reported to be in fair condition.
Police believe that alcohol played a role in Nelson’s death. A bottle of vodka was found in Hendricks’ vehicle and police smelled alcohol on his breath once they arrived on the scene.
No mention has been made of any charges being brought against Hendricks. The accident is still being investigated.
Approximate Scene of the Accident
Commentary
Many states have what are known as dram shop laws. These laws prohibit establishments that sell alcohol from selling to those who are obviously intoxicated. The reason for these laws should be pretty obvious. The more alcohol someone has had, the more likely they are to get into an accident. Reports say that the driver responsible for this accident had a bottle of Vodka in his vehicle at the time. Is it possible that he was intoxicated before buying the bottle? It’s possible that he wasn’t, but it’s something that needs to be looked into. If he was, it’s possible that the establishment would bear some of the liability for the accident.
— Grossman Law Offices
