Jury Convicts Central Minnesota Man In Crash That Killed Boy

BRAINERD  (AP) - A jury has convicted a 68-year-old man who was driving a van that struck and killed a 3-year-old boy in Merrifield two years ago.

Jurors on Wednesday found Sherman Frederick of Crosslake guilty of criminal vehicular homicide.

Frederick also was found guilty on a lesser charge of careless driving.

Authorities say Frederick drove on the right shoulder to get around cars that were waiting for several children to cross a road in May 2009. That's when authorities say he struck and killed Jack Larson of Buffalo, who was visiting his grandparents for Mother's Day weekend.

The defense argued that Frederick has medical issues - he suffers from sleep apnea and diabetes - that may have led to the crash.

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