Woman charged with vehicular homicide after fatal crash in Roseau, blamed dog for steering wheel

A Minnesota woman claimed her dog grabbed the steering wheel, causing a fatal head-on collision. Shauna Dokken, 43, faces vehicular homicide charges.

Fatal crash in Roseau: woman blames dog, charged with vehicular homicide

A 43-year-old Minnesota woman has been charged with vehicular homicide after driving into oncoming traffic on a highway near Roseau on May 29, killing an 82-year-old driver. According to abc45.com, Shauna Dokken told authorities that her dog had grabbed the steering wheel and caused her vehicle to spin out of control.

Court documents obtained by the Minnesota Star-Tribune state that Dokken was travelling on the highway at around 4 p.m. when she crossed into oncoming traffic and struck an SUV driven by Barbara Lee Welburg, 82. Welburg's vehicle flipped over on impact; she was pronounced dead at the scene. Dokken was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

First responders noted that Dokken was slurring her speech at the scene. Although she did not test positive for alcohol, she told authorities she had taken multiple prescription medicines earlier that day, including Adderall and lorazepam, also known as Ativan, according to local outlet KSTP.

A witness told investigators he had to swerve to avoid being struck by Dokken's vehicle, and said it felt as though the driver was intentionally tracking his movements and attempting to hit him.

Authorities noted that Dokken provided multiple conflicting accounts of the moments leading up to the collision. In one version she stated that her dog had distracted her and twisted the steering wheel. Law & Crime reported that Dokken had been convicted of driving while intoxicated in 2025 and was on probation at the time of the crash.

Dokken was arrested and formally charged with vehicular homicide.

Source: Google News DM — Crime