Sauk Rapids Man Sentenced in Drunk Driving Crash

FOLEY -- A Sauk Rapids man avoided prison, but will spend some time in jail and pay thousands in restitution after a drunk driving crash last April.

Court records show 30-year-old Benjamin Theisen pleaded guilty to a felony count of criminal vehicular operation. The charge involves operating a vehicle above the legal limit of 0.08 and causing substantial bodily harm to another person.

The crash happened at the intersection of Mayhew Lake Road Northeast and 15th Street Northeast.

According to the criminal complaint, Theisen was driving and failed to stop for cross traffic at a stop sign. A truck driven by 50-year-old Barbara Torres of Rice then broadsided Theisen's SUV. Theisen's passenger, 28-year-old Brady Haugen of Sauk Rapids was trapped in the SUV and had to be extricated. Torres suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck said Theisen fled the scene after the crash and deputies found him in a parking lot near Industrial Boulevard in Sauk Rapids.

Theisen must serve 60 days in jail and be on supervised probation for five years. He must avoid alcohol, complete a treatment program, and submit to random testing. Theisen must also pay more than $18,000 in restitution.