South Dakota man faces three criminal vehicular homicide charges in death of Hannah Stoesz
According to a report on KEYC-TV and keyc.com, charges have been filed in Martin County against a South Dakota man following a fatal wrong-way crash on I-90 near Fairmont on Tuesday, March 7.
Mark Jason Wendland, 48, of Baltic, South Dakota, is facing three criminal vehicular homicide charges. According to the criminal complaint, Wendland is accused of driving west in the eastbound lanes at Mile Post 99 in Fraser Township in Martin County, approximately two miles west of Fairmont, colliding with a SUV.
A former Mountain Lake woman, 21-year-old Hannah Stoesz of Jackson received fatal injuries in the accident.
Two sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and two semi-trucks were involved in the 7:50 p.m. crash.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol report, a 2006 Honda CR-V, driven by Wendland was going the wrong way, heading west bound in the east bound lanes, when it struck a 2011 Ford Escape traveling east bound, driven by Tyler Schoborg, 19, of Westbrook, of which Stoesz was a passenger. A 2013 Mack 600 semi truck and trailer, driven by 33-year-old Jacob Oeltjenbruns of Granada, was also east bound on I-90, and began to pull onto the east bound shoulder. At the same time, a 2016 Kenworth diesel semi truck and trailer, driven by Nathan Grela, 39, of Billings, Montana, also travelling east bound, moved into the left lane to pass the Mack. The Kenworth came upon the crash scene, swerved to the right, lightly side-swiping the Honda CR-V, running into the back of the Mack. Both the Kenworth and Mack ended up in the ditch.
The State Patrol investigation says Wendland was also “extremely intoxicated” during the time of the crash. A blood test taken three hours after the crash found a blood–alcohol level of 0.188.
Wendland’s first court appearance on the felony counts is scheduled for June 20 in Martin County Court.Wendland’s first court appearance on the felony counts is scheduled for Tuesday, June 20 in Martin County Court.
