Driver claims dog grabbed steering wheel before crash that killed 82-year-old woman

ROSEAU, Minn. (KVLY/Gray News) - A Minnesota driver charged in a head-on crash that killed an 82-year-old woman told investigators her dog was to blame for the incident, according to court documents.

Shauna Rae Dokken, 43, is charged with criminal vehicular homicide - operating a motor vehicle in a grossly negligent manner, a felony carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

The charge is related to a head-on crash last Friday afternoon on Minnesota Highway 11 that killed 82-year-old Barbara Lee Welberg.

According to a criminal complaint filed Monday in Roseau County District Court, Dokken’s Ford F-259 pickup crossed the center line and hit Welberg’s Kia Sorento head-on. Welberg was pronounced dead at the scene while Dokken was taken to a Roseau hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Authorities say multiple driving complaints were called in before the fatal crash. Witnesses told investigators they observed Dokken driving erratically, with one man saying he called 911 and tried to follow Dokken’s truck to get a license plate number after watching it cross completely into oncoming traffic.

Dokken gave varying accounts of the incident, according to the complaint. At one point, she told investigators her dog distracted her and grabbed the steering wheel, causing her to lose control.

Responding troopers noted Dokken had slurred speech. She told investigators she had taken prescription medications that day, including Buspar; lorazepam, a Schedule IV controlled substance; and Adderall, a Schedule II controlled substance. She denied consuming alcohol, and a preliminary breath test returned a result of .000.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for a blood sample, which was collected and sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for analysis. Results are pending.

Dokken’s significant other told investigators she has been known to misuse her medications by snorting them rather than taking them as prescribed, according to the complaint.

Dokken remains in custody pending further proceedings after a detention order was signed Monday by Roseau County District Court Judge Tamara Yon.