Driver in Wrong-Way Fatal Crash Pleads Guilty

ST. CLOUD -- A Waite Park man has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from that wrong-way crash last April where a man and an unborn baby were killed.

23-year-old Timothy Gilles -- also known as Ricky Gilles -- pleaded guilty to two counts of fleeing a peace officer in a vehicle resulting in death and one count of fleeing police resulting in substantial bodily harm.

The incident happened April 15th, 2011 when officers tried to stop Gilles' Jeep Cherokee at the intersection of Highway 15 and 2nd Street South. Gilles was wanted for a felony warrant out of Wright County.

Two marked squad cars with lights and sirens activated pursued Gilles. He went over the center median, and proceeded at a high rate of speed westbound in the eastbound lane of 2nd Street South. At the intersection of Waite Avenue and 2nd Street South, Gilles ran a red light and struck the victims' vehicle.

Gilles crashed his SUV into a van killing the driver, injuring the female passenger and ultimately killing her unborn baby.

In his guilty plea today (Thursday), Gilles admitted to driving the wrong way at speeds higher than 70 miles-per-hour.

Prosecutors will be seeking a 36-year prison term when Gilles is sentenced. No date is immediately available.