Preston, MN (KROC-AM News) - The southeastern Minnesota woman who was charged with lying to law enforcement officers in order to protect her twin sister was sentenced today for her conviction in connection with a deadly crash involving an Amish buggy near Stewartville that claimed the lives of two young children.

Sarah Peterson, who turned 37 on Sunday and currently has a Wabasha address, was originally charged with 16 felony offenses, including multiple counts of aiding and abetting criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation, earlier entered into a plea agreement and admitted to two counts of felony criminal vehicular operation. In exchange, Fillmore County prosecutors dismissed all of the other charges against her.

She Was Accused of Lying to Law Enforcement to Protect Her Twin Sister

It is alleged that her twin sister, Samantha Peterson, was driving under the influence of methamphetamine when her SUV crashed into an Amish buggy along Fillmore County Road 1 near Stewartville in September 2023. 7-year-old Wilma and 11-year-old Irma Miller were both killed in the crash and two other siblings suffered serious injuries.

According to court documents, Sarah Peterson, responding to a call from her twin sister, got to the crash scene before law enforcement and told investigators that she was driving the SUV.

A Fillmore County judge today sentenced Sarah Peterson to 90 days in jail and 4 years on probation. She will also be required to serve 120 days on electronic monitoring home detention. The sentencing order also includes a stayed 19 month prison sentence that could be imposed if she fails to meet the terms of her probation.

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Samantha Peterson still faces 17 charges in the case, including six counts of criminal vehicular homicide and six counts of felony criminal vehicular operation. She is currently scheduled to appear in Fillmore County Court in early June for a plea hearing. Earlier reports indicated her defense team and the prosecutors have been involved in negotiations on a potential plea agreement.

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