EDEN PRAIRIE, MN – A volunteer police chaplain is facing investigation after admitting he struck a mother and her children with his pickup truck, leaving a young girl fighting for her life in the hospital.
The crash happened around 8:20 p.m. on August 21 at the intersection of Mitchell Road and Chestnut Drive. A 27-year-old woman was walking with four children when tragedy struck – two of the kids were riding in a wagon she was pulling along the roadway.
The impact left one child critically injured and hospitalized, while another child in the wagon was treated and released from medical care. The mother suffered serious injuries but they’re not considered life-threatening, according to authorities.
What makes this case particularly troubling is that the driver didn’t stop. The volunteer chaplain, who works with the Eden Prairie Police Department, later admitted he was distracted by a text message while driving north on Mitchell Road around 8 p.m. that evening.
“He heard a bump,” investigators revealed, but the chaplain kept driving without stopping to check what had happened or to help the victims. He also didn’t report the incident to authorities.
The Minnesota State Patrol has taken over the investigation to avoid any conflicts of interest, since the suspect volunteers with the local police department. Investigators quickly connected the crash to a red Chevrolet Silverado with fresh damage.
Both the suspect’s vehicle and his cell phone have been seized as evidence in the ongoing investigation. The chaplain has temporarily stepped away from his volunteer duties during this process.
The case highlights the serious consequences of distracted driving, especially when drivers fail to stop and render aid after causing injuries. While no criminal charges have been filed yet, prosecutors are reviewing the evidence as the investigation continues.
The injured child remains in critical condition as her family and the community await justice in this devastating case.
If the child doesn’t make it, the appropriate charge is murder. What kind of chaplain is immoral enough to text while driving? If the child does survive, the miscreant should be held accountable for all of the family’s medical expenses, plus long-term care costs, if any are involved. This tragedy is a great example of why cell phone logs should always be checked following a traffic collision.