Rochester Driver Convicted in Alcohol-Related Injury Crash

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester woman has entered a guilty plea to a felony charge involving an alcohol-involved crash last year that resulted in serious injuries.

The criminal complaint against 20-year-old Fathi Issa Araya was filed in Olmsted County court in late April of last year, a little more than two months after the crash occurred. The court document says she was behind the wheel of a vehicle that was found overturned underneath the bridges in the median of East Circle Drive near the railroad tracks and Silver Creek Crossing, just north of the College View Drive intersection.

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5 People in Vehicle

According to the charges, Rochester police, five people were in the vehicle, ranging in age from 20 to 34. The crash investigation determined the vehicle was traveling north when it smashed into a guardrail and rolled after entering the median.

The court document says responding officers found an unconscious man who was apparently ejected during the crash. Officers reported that he had labored breathing and was unable to speak when he initially regained consciousness.

Officers found another person outside the vehicle, while three people were trapped inside. The criminal complaint says a man trapped in the vehicle appeared to have suffered a broken arm, a shoulder injury, and fractured ribs.

photo by Andy Brownell

Blood Alcohol Results Released

Araya was identified as the driver, and the charges say officers at the scene detected the odor of alcohol coming from her and the vehicle. She and her injured passengers were transported to St. Marys Hospital, where investigators obtained a blood sample. The criminal complaint says testing measured her blood alcohol concentration at .082.

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Araya was charged with two counts of criminal vehicular operation. During a court hearing on Thursday, she admitted to one of the felony charges and is scheduled to be sentenced in March.

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