Former Stewartville Woman Sentenced in Amish Buggy Deaths

Preston, MN (KROC-AM News) - The former Stewartville woman responsible for the deaths of two young children in 2023 was sentenced today.

Thirty-seven-year-old Samantha Petersen, who currently has a Wabasha address, was accused of being under the influence of methamphetamine when the SUV she was driving smashed into an Amish buggy on Fillmore County Road 1 near Stewartville. The crash claimed the lives of 7-year-old Wilma and 11-year-old Irma Miller. Two of their siblings also suffered serious injuries.

Petersen was charged with six counts of criminal vehicular homicide, six counts of criminal vehicular operation, gross misdemeanor DWI, and multiple misdemeanor traffic offenses. Several months ago, she entered guilty pleas to one count each of criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation in exchange for the dismissal of the other charges.

READ MORE: Woman Pleads Guilty in Amish Buggy Crash That Killed 2 Children

She was sentenced today to four years in prison. The judge presiding over the case also ordered Petersen to pay more than $39,500 in restitution.

Twin Sister Also Charged for Lying to Investigators

Her twin sister, 37-year-old Sarah Petersen, was also prosecuted in the case. She was previously sentenced to 90 days in jail and four years on probation for a criminal vehicular operation conviction. She was accused of lying to investigators in an attempt to protect her sister from criminal charges by leading them to believe she was driving the SUV at the time of the crash.

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