Farmington man charged following fatal accident Christmas Eve

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A 37-year-old Farmington man has been charged with drunk driving and child endangerment in connection with a fatal accident Christmas Eve in Lakeville.

Jeffrey Arthur Martin had his 9-year-old child in the car last Thursday as he drove north on Gerdine Path in Lakeville. Both Martin and a witness told police Susan Mary Schaffer, 69, of Prior Lake, was headed east on Dodd Boulevard when she apparently signaled a right turn. She didn’t turn, though, and Martin pulled into the intersection after stopping at a stop sign. He hit Schaffer’s car on the right side.

Both Schaffer and Everett Thomas Letterly, an 88-year-old passenger, were injured. Letterly later died, according to information from the Lakeville Police Department.

Neither Martin nor his child received any significant injuries, but according to a complaint filed Monday in the Dakota County Attorney’s office police officers noticed signs of intoxication as they spoke with Martin. He failed a preliminary breath test and later admitted drinking before the accident.

Results of a formal blood alcohol test are pending.

Martin has been charged with child endangerment and two counts of driving while impaired — one third degree and one fourth degree.

The child endangerment charge and the third degree driving while impaired charge, both gross misdemeanors, both carry a potential sentence of up to one year and fines of up to $3,000. The fourth degree DWI charge, a misdemeanor, carries a potential sentence of up to 90 days and fines of up to $1,000.

Tags: crime and courts, news, fatality