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A Minnesota woman accused of causing a crash that killed an 82-year-old woman told investigators her dog grabbed the steering wheel before the crash, according to court records.
Shauna Rae Dokken, 43, was charged Monday in Roseau County District Court with vehicular homicide while reckless driving.
The case stems from an accident that occurred on June 27 on Minnesota Highway 11 that left Barbara Lee Welberg, 82, dead.
According to the criminal complaint, several drivers reported that Dokken was driving erratically before the crash. Another witness told investigators that he called 911 and tried to follow Dokken’s van after seeing it cut through traffic.
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Shauna Rae Dokken (pictured) has been charged with vehicular homicide for her involvement in a crash in Roseau County, Minnesota. (Roseau County Sheriff’s Office)
Authorities suspect Dokken’s Ford F-250 later crossed the center line and collided head-on with Welberg’s Kia Sorento. Welberg was pronounced dead at the scene. Dokken was taken to hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Investigators said Dokken gave different accounts of what led to the crash. According to the complaint, he told investigators at one point that his dog interfered with the car and grabbed the steering wheel before it crashed.
Troopers responding to the crash also noted that Dokken appeared to be slurred, according to court records.
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A Minnesota State Patrol car is parked on an interstate highway in Minnesota. (Minnesota State Patrol)
The complaint says Dokken told investigators he had taken prescription medications that day, including Buspar, lorazepam and Adderall. He denied consuming alcohol, and a breathalyzer test registered 0.00, according to the complaint.
Authorities later obtained a search warrant for a blood sample, which was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for analysis.
The investigation is ongoing pending laboratory tests, according to the Roseau County Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors said additional charges may be filed depending on the results of the investigation.
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A Minnesota road is photographed in Burnsville on April 2, 2026. Authorities say a Roseau County woman has been charged in connection with a crash that killed an 82-year-old woman. (Elizabeth Flores/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images)
Court records also cite statements from another key Dokken, who told investigators he had abused prescription drugs.
The allegations raised in this complaint have not been proven in court.
Dokken was taken into custody Monday after Roseau County District Judge Tamara Yon signed an arrest warrant.
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A representative from the Roseau County District Attorney’s Office told Fox News Digital that all criminal defendants are accompanied by a public defender at their first court appearance, but it was not immediately clear whether Dokken will continue to be represented by a public defender or retain a private attorney.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Minnesota State Patrol for more information. The Roseau County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the investigation is ongoing pending an investigation and said additional charges could be brought based on the findings.
