GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. — Two northern Minnesota men allegedly spent a night partying — one of them admitting to drinking more than a dozen beers and having several shots — before they were involved in an Itasca County rollover crash that killed a friend earlier this month.
Prosecutors on Wednesday charged 39-year-old Tomas Charles Cuellar and 48-year-old Bradley Gene Doree in connection with the March 11 crash along U.S. 169 that killed Michael Joseph Washburn, 48, of Hill City.
Cuellar was arraigned Wednesday in Itasca County District Court in Grand Rapids on a felony criminal vehicular homicide charge, while Doree was charged with aiding and abetting the crime, as well as fourth-degree driving while impaired.
According to the criminal complaints:
The Minnesota State Patrol was notified of the crash about 6 miles north of Hill City at about 5:20 a.m, and found a Volkswagen Passat, which had drifted off the right shoulder of the northbound lanes, struck a driveway approach and rolled, coming to rest on its wheels.
Washburn, whose body was discovered about 40 feet in front of the vehicle, was quickly pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said alcohol containers, clothing, shoes and blood were found throughout the vehicle and nearby area.
Troopers said Doree, who was found on scene, had a strong odor of alcohol. Cuellar had left the scene and it was determined that he had received a ride to McDonald’s in Grand Rapids. Police found him there, shoeless and “bleeding profusely” from two large gashes to his back and head.
Both men were initially taken to Grand Itasca Hospital before being taken to Duluth hospitals. Doree had a 0.237 blood-alcohol concentration, while Cuellar was at 0.204 — both well above the 0.08 limit for driving.
The next day, troopers obtained a voice-mail message from a third party in which Cuellar and Doree could be heard discussing a “bad crash.” Cuellar allegedly stated in the message: “It’s my fault.”
Doree later told investigators that he and the two other men met at Cuellar’s La Prairie home around 2 p.m. March 10 and went to two bars in Remer, where he said he drank “12 to 14 beers and a couple shots of Jagermeister” between 3 p.m. and midnight. He said they also got alcohol to go, and “probably had open containers” in the vehicle.
In another interview, Doree said he recalled going to Cuellar’s stepfather’s residence afterward, where they drank for several hours before departing.
Cuellar was interviewed on Tuesday. He acknowledged going to the two Remer bars, and said they went to another establishment in Longville before going to his stepfather’s house. He said he was “maybe” driving when he left the house, but stated that all three of them had driven over the course of the night.
Cuellar admitted that he left the scene of the crash, but said it was to go get help. However, he acknowledged that he never called 911, despite having a phone. Police said a review of his phone showed that he placed 10 calls, but none of them to authorities.
Cuellar’s bail was set at $50,000 with conditions or $100,000 without, while Doree was being held on bail of $10,000 with conditions or $20,000 without. Both men are due back in court on April 4.