Rochester Woman Charged for Injury Crash on Hwy. 52 Near Chatfield

Rochester, MN (RochesterNow)- Charges have been filed against a Rochester woman in connection to an injury crash that happened on Hwy. 52 earlier the year. 

Read More: Collision at Hwy. 52 Intersection Between Rochester & Chatfield Injures Three 

The State Patrol responded to the crash shortly after 8:15 p.m. on April 30.

A pickup truck and Ford Bronco were involved in the collision at the intersection of Hwy. 52 and 90th Ave, which is about nine miles northwest of Chatfield. 

Both drivers and a passenger in the pickup suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were brought to St. Marys Hospital. 

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68-year-old Daryl Theodore Roney of Decorah, IA was driving the pickup and 64-year-old Wendy Marie Roney of Decorah, IA was riding with him. 

The state crash report identified 62-year-old Julie Ann Schuchard of Rochester as the Bronco driver. 

Rochester Woman Faces Felony Charge for Alleged Alcohol-Involved Crash on Hwy. 52 Between Chatfield & Rochester

The criminal complaint says both of the vehicles had rolled onto their sides. 

An eyewitness told a state trooper that they were following the pickup south on Hwy. 52 when they saw the Bronco, which was traveling on 90th Ave. SE, run the stop sign and hit the pickup at the intersection, the charges state. 

A second witness also reported seeing the Bronco fail to stop at the stop sign, according to the complaint.

The pickup driver gave the trooper a similar account of the crash, the court document says. 

Rochester Woman Suspected of Driving Impaired After Speaking with First Responders

The trooper spoke to Schuchard while she was being treated by an ambulance crew and detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage.

She also had slurred speech and watery eyes, the complaint says. 

An ambulance crew member recommended Schuchard be tested for impairment, the charges say. 

Law enforcement obtained a blood sample from Schuchard and sent it to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for testing. 

See Also: $100K Bail Set for Rochester Man in Sex Assault Case 

The lab test measured her blood alcohol concentration at .246. The complaint also says the sample was collected less than two hours after the collision. 

Schuchard is charged with felony criminal vehicular operation and gross misdemeanor DWI. She’s scheduled to make her first court appearance early next year.