MINNEAPOLIS (AP) A man who shot and killed a ST. PAUL An updated forecast put Minnesotas budget surplus Monday at a still-enormous $17.5 billion, 2 men killed in second Minnesota shooting outside a funeral Jess Myers covers college hockey, as well as outdoors, general sports and travel, for The Rink Live and the Forum Communications family of publications. Voty, questioned by Schmidt on what Rolison said after the accident, said he never saw her. We are doing everything within our power to protect and preserve our right as a community to ensure that justice is served here.. She also mentioned how the victims loved ones chose not to speak in court, but rather wrote 20 letters to help guide her decision. Copyright Post Journal | https://www.post-journal.com | PO Box 3386, Jamestown, NY 14702 | 716-487-1111. Judge Chu said she believed Blue had taken responsibility for his actions since the crash. Blue wasn't wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. A blood sample indicated Blue had a blood-alcohol content of 0.175, more than twice the legal limit. The driver, identified as James David Blue, 51, was taken to the hospital with severe injuries after the crash off North Shore Drive near his home. James David Blue, 52, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal vehicular homicide (operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration 0.08 or more) for the deaths of 20-year-old Mack. He lives in the Twin Cities. Thursday, Judge Regina Chu sentenced Blue to seven-and-a-half years (90 months) in prison 42 months on one count and 48 months on the other in line with what prosecutors recommended. Earlier during the preliminary hearing, officer Alexis Carlson with the Jamestown Police Department spoke. . /usr/web/www.marshallindependent.com/wp-content/themes/coreV2/single.php .woocommerce-product-gallery{ opacity: 1 !important; } Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. According to friends of Schuneman who were with him and Motzko on Saturday night, Blue hosted a party at his house, just a few doors down from the site of the accident, and offered the men a ride in a Bentley, which crashed on the return trip. The driver, identified as James David Blue, 51, was taken to the hospital with severe injuries after the crash that killed Mack Motzko, 20, son of Gophers hockey coach Bob Motzko, and Sam Schuneman, 24, of Maple Grove. James D. Blue, 51, drove off North Shore Drive on Saturday around 11:20 p.m. near his Orono home, striking trees before being thrown from his 2017 Bentley. We will be making no further statements at this time and ask for privacy as we continue to process and grieve the loss of Mack and Sam.. He had plans to play for a team in British Columbia in the coming season. Lakewood Fire Department was assisted by Lakewood-Busti Police, Chautauqua County Sheriffs Office, the Fire Investigation Team, and National Grid. He left court in handcuffs. 0:46. James D. Blue, 51, had the additional charges formally filed against him Sept. 23 in Hennepin County District Court. Dec 11, 2021. READ MORE:St. It started like, it stalled out, she said. I had no idea., On the sidewalk, yeah. Motzko later died from his injuries. Big change to South Dakota's violent parole system heads to Gov. Hughans body came to rest on West Sixth Street, just west of the Washington Street intersection. James David Blue, 51, is being held in the Hennepin County Jail on suspicion of criminal vehicular homicide, according to the county's online inmate search. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) - New Mexico State Police say one person is dead following a crash that happened on U.S. 62 south of Carlsbad Saturday. #right_column_inside #mc_embed_signup #mc_embed_signup_scroll .button {margin:3px auto 0 auto; width:150px !important} Blue was the driver of a car that crashed into several trees in Orono on July 24 and killed Mack Motzko, 20, and Samuel Schuneman, 24. Motzko was a former Cathedral hockey player and his father, Bob Motzko, was the former men's hockey coach at St. Reach him at 320-255-8772or bmozey@stcloudtimes.com. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) An Orono man who crashed his car last month and killed two passengers, including the son of the Minnesota mens hockey team, had a blood alcohol content of more than twice the legal limit, police said. https://www.startribune.com/orono-man-charged-jailed-after-lake-minnetonka-crash-kills-two-passengers/600082510/, P.O. Asked by Jason Schmidt, Chautauqua County district attorney, if she recalled her specific words at that moment, Voty replied, Yeah, Theres a person, theres a person. I was pretty manic. Contact Jess via email at jrmyers@forumcomm.com, or find him on Twitter via @JessRMyers. Cloud State University mens hockey team from 2005-2018 and is the current head coach of the University of Minnesota mens hockey team. Schuneman was in the front seat and was pronounced dead at the scene. Anyone screaming at you? the public defender followed up. KSTP-TV, LLC An Orono man whose two passengers died when he crashed his car into a cluster of trees near his Lake Minnetonka home turned himself into authorities Wednesday and was charged with criminal vehicular homicide. While the families are relieved to avoid the trauma of a trial, they remain steadfastly committed to holding Mr. Blue accountable and securing full and complete justice for Mack and Sam.. He was killed in a car accident in Orono, Minn., on Saturday, July 24, 2021. ORONO, Minn. -- The driver accused in the late-night crash that killed two men with deep ties to the Minnesota hockey community has turned himself in to police. He has a first. He came to FCC in 2018 after three decades of covering sports as a freelancer for a variety of publications, while working full time in politics and media relations. Today's breaking news and more in your inbox. The families of Motzko and Schuneman released the following statement following Blues sentencing: While todays outcome cannot compare to the life sentence our two families have been given with the loss of our beloved sons, Mack and Sam, we hope it sends a clear and strong message that there are serious consequences for drunk driving and those that drive while impaired will be held accountable. The crash happened when a car driven by Blue went off the road at a high rate of speed and struck a group of trees, according to Orono police, who said that alcohol and speed appear to have been factors. ORONO, Minn. -- The driver accused in the late-night crash that killed two men with deep ties to the Minnesota hockey community has turned himself in to police. James D. Blue, 51, drove off North Shore Drive on Saturday around 11:20 p.m. near his home, striking trees before being thrown from his 2017 Bentley. St. The Orono police press release noted that alcohol and speed appear to be contributing factors in the crash, and the case remains under investigation. Prosecutors dropped two counts of third-degree murder and two separate charges of criminal vehicular homicide as part of the plea deal. Inside the crashed car, officers found Schuneman who was pronounced dead at the scene and Motzko who died at a hospital soon after. The accident happened when a car driven by Blue, 51, went off the road at a high rate of speed and struck a group of trees, according to police. Blue was also taken to North Memorial with injuries. Shortly after the accident, Rolison was indicted on three counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Firefighters discovered a heavily damaged vehicle from impact and human remains in the vehicle. Voty was in the semi with Rolison the day of the accident. Copyright Marshall Independent | https://www.marshallindependent.com | 508 W. Main St., Marshall, MN 56258 | 507-537-1551. ezeRoad New Mexico. An Orono man entered a guilty plea Tuesday in connection with a high-speed crash last summer that killed two passengers. According to a criminal complaint, officers from the Orono Police Department responded to a crash near the 3100 block of North Shore Drive on July 24. Ive taken both your sons lives and so much more from all friends and family. Cloud Times: Driver in crash that killed Mack Motzko, Sam Schuneman pleads guilty, Blue turned himself in to the Orono Police Department, Blue had a blood-alcohol level of 0.175 after the crash, indicated a speed of 94-99 mph seconds before the crash, Minnesota mourns former Cathedral hockey player who died in car crash, Driver in crash that killed Mack Motzko, Sam Schuneman pleads guilty, Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in runoff, King asks Duke and Duchess of Sussex to move out of Frogmore so Prince Andrew can move in, Biden Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene With 1 Simple Hand Gesture, A Nebraska high-school cheerleader competed on her own after the rest of her squad quit. While friends said Schuneman was primarily a backyard pond hockey player, his father, Tom, is the chair of the Minnesota Special Hockey Board, which promotes the sport for people with special needs. The crash occurred at11:23 p.m. Saturday, July 24,near 3120 North Shore Drive in Orono. Copyright 2023. Cloud Cathedral, where he played in two state tournaments for the Crusaders boys hockey team. P-J photo by John Whittaker. ORONO, Minn. (WCCO) -- The driver in a deadly crash that killed two men, including the Gopher hockey coach's son, learned his fate on Thursday. James David Blue, 51, drove off North Shore Drive on Saturday around 11:30 p.m., striking the trees before being thrown from his 2017 Bentley. Mack Motzko, 20, and Sam Schuneman, 24, were killed in the Saturday night crash near Lake Minnetonka. The crash, which happened on July 24, 2021, in Orono, killed 20-year-old Mack Motzko and 24-year-old Sam Schuneman. We are made to. James David Blue, 51, of Orono, Minn., was driver in crash that killed Sam Schuneman and Mack Motzko, police say. One person has died as the result of a fiery motor vehicle accident in Lakewood on Friday night. The accident happened when a car driven by Blue, 51, went off the road at a high rate of speed and struck a group of trees, according to police. The driver in the weekend crash that killed two men with deep ties to the Minnesota hockey community was arrested Wednesday after turning himself in to police in a Lake Minnetonka community. The incident was then upgraded to a motor vehicle accident. Its been overwhelming with the support of the community, Rafaloski said. The new charges, unrelated to the accident, were the result of unregistered handguns found in a storage unit that Rolison rents. Live Traffic, Construction and Accident Report. We express our thanks to the Court for the professional and compassionate manner in which it has handled this horrific and senseless tragedy. He returned to Minnesota often and had been visiting friends this month. James David Blue, 51, of Orono, Minn., was driver in crash that killed Sam Schuneman and Mack Motzko, police say. Thursdays sentencing hearing with Hennepin County District Judge Regina Chu was scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. but was delayed slightly as a result of technical issues. James David Blue, 52, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal vehicular homicide (operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration 0.08 or more) for the deaths of 20-year-old Mack Motzko and 24-year-old Sam Schuneman on July 24, 2021, in Orono. Addressing the court before his sentence was handed down, Blue said, I just want to state how sorry I am for putting you into the dire situation. He was scheduled to fly to Phoenix last Friday, but moved the return flight to Sunday morning to spend another day with friends. He was turning and it was doing the bump thing. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. A native of Warroad, Minn. (the real Hockeytown USA), Myers has a degree in journalism/communications from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Pictured is the semi involved in the Dec. 31 fatal accident in Jamestown. Originally from the Twin Cities, Schuneman had attended Minnesota State University in Mankato and had moved to the Phoenix area. The 51-year-old man is being held on suspicion of two counts of criminal . Rafaloski also acknowledged the support the family has received over the last month and a half. In court Tuesday, the 52-year-old Blue admitted to Judge Regina Chu that he did shots of tequila and took a THC gummy before speeding out of his driveway and crashing into a grove of trees,. He is being represented by Ned Barone, county public defender, who with Schmidt, questioned Voty and other witnesses during the preliminary hearing in front of City Court Judge John LaMancuso. Police saidthe car driven by Blue left the road and hit several trees. He was killed in a car accident in Orono, Minn., on Saturday, July 24, 2021. The Chautauqua County Health Department has lifted the boil water order for all Village of Fredonia water Jamestown Public Schools will do away with its Red Raiders name at the high school within the next two years. According to friends of Schuneman who were with him and Motzko on Saturday night, Blue hosted a party at his house, just a few doors down from the site of the accident, and offered the men a ride in a Bentley, which crashed on the return trip. So I thought it was fine I didnt think we hit anybody. On Wednesday afternoon, July 28, Blue appeared at the Orono Police Department, where he was arrested at 4:49 p.m. on probable cause for two counts of criminal vehicular homicide. A 51-year-old Orono man was driving near his Lake Minnetonka home when he crashed into a grove of trees, killing two young men who were passengers in his car. Chautauqua County Court Judge David Foley, at a hearing Jan. 19, set bail for Rolison at . According to authorities, high speed and alcohol were factors in the crash that happened near Blues Lake Minnetonka home on the night of July 25. James David Blue Death | Obituary | James David Blue Dead | Died | Funeral Plans - We heard about the great loss, that our beloved person is no more and has reportedly passed away. Blue's personal Facebook page, which on Monday showed pictures taken from his home on the lake, appears to have been deleted. Copyright Post Journal | https://www.post-journal.com | PO Box 3386, Jamestown, NY 14702 | 716-487-1111, I said, Theres a person. I was screaming, Theres a person stop, stop, stop, , Yeah, Theres a person, theres a person. I was pretty manic. Minnesotas legal alcohol driving limit is 0.08. James David Blue, 51, drove off North Shore Drive on Saturday around 11:30 p.m., striking the trees before being thrown from his 2017 Bentley. There was no alcohol detected during the alert test, she said. The judge will determine whether he will be allowed to post bail, and if so, for what amount. Schuneman was in the front passenger seat of the vehicle and Motzko was in the back seat. Fifty-two-year-old James David Blue entered a guilty plea to two charges of criminal vehicular homicide (operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration 0.08 or more) last month. He didnt see her., Asked if he noted seeing the pedestrian before making the turn, Voty responded, On the sidewalk, yeah. Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public File may contact KSTP via our online form or call 651-646-5555, This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. He lives in the Twin Cities. The accident happened when a car driven by Blue, 51, went off the road at a high rate of speed and struck a group of trees, according to police. She was identified as Louise Burnette, 42, of 1157 Isley School Road, Burlington. Motzko, the oldest son of Minnesota Gophers hockey coach Bob Motzko, had split time in junior hockey between teams in South Dakota and New Mexico last winter. The initial report had one person deceased at the scene and two others with serious injuries. Sam Schuneman, 24, died Saturday night at the scene of an accident on North Shore Drive in Orono, near Lake Minnetonka. An Orono man who pleaded guilty to killing two people in a high-speed, drunken-driving crash last summer learned his fate Thursday. He saw her on the sidewalk before we stopped., She added, He just said that he saw her on the sidewalk because I said I saw her and then he said he saw her on the sidewalk and I never saw her on the sidewalk. Records indicate Rolison posted bond Feb. 4 and was later released from Chautauqua County Jail. Blue will be charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide and is being . He returned to Minnesota often and had been visiting friends this month. 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