TRUCK DRIVER CHARGED FOR HITTING MINNESOTA TROOPER

A truck driver admitted Thursday that he dozed off before the June 5 crash in which he hit and injured a state trooper along Interstate 94. Donald J. Kerkau, 46, of St. Louis, Mich., was charged with two counts of criminal vehicular injury in Stearns County District Court. The charges involve substantial bodily harm caused by gross negligence and the influence of controlled substances.

The Department of Public Safety said Kerkau tested positive for marijuana and cocaine metabolite. A review of Kerkau’s vehicle log book also showed he violated the commercial vehicle driver rule by not taking a sufficient break between outings.

Trooper Gregg Gerhartz, 41, was conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 94 near Sauk Centre when he was struck by a tire on Kerkau’s semi. Gerhartz suffered a broken leg. He intends to return to patrolling the highway in a few weeks.

Truck driver charged for hitting trooper near Sauk Centre

A truck driver says he dozed off before the June Fifth crash in which he hit and injured a state trooper along Interstate 94.

Forty-6-year-old Donald J. Kerkau, of St. Louis, Michigan, was charged with two counts of criminal vehicular injury in Stearns County District Court. The charges involve substantial bodily harm caused by gross negligence and the influence of controlled substances.

The Department of Public Safety says Kerkau tested positive for marijuana and cocaine metabolite. Also, his log shows he didn't take a sufficient break between drives.

Trooper Gregg Gerhartz was conducting a traffic stop when he was struck by a tire on Kerkau's semi. Gerhartz suffered a broken leg.