Prosecutors say a 19-year-old from Cokato was warned not to drive drunk, got behind the wheel anyway, and slammed into a power pole in rural Meeker County, killing his 19-year-old passenger in the early hours of Aug. 24, 2025.
The passenger, Nolan Henke of Dassel, was pronounced dead at the scene of the single-vehicle wreck. The driver, identified in court papers as 19-year-old Elijah Michael Miller, was airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center with critical injuries. Miller has now been summoned on two counts of criminal vehicular homicide and is scheduled to appear in Meeker County District Court on March 31.
Criminal complaint details
According to the criminal complaint cited by the Star Tribune, deputies responded to a 911 call shortly after 3 a.m. on Aug. 24, 2025, and found a car in a ditch near County Road 6 and 746th Avenue.
A juvenile female who had been at a home with Miller and Henke told investigators that Miller said he had been drinking, that his speech was slurred, and that she explicitly warned him not to drive before he and Henke left. The complaint states that a blood draw taken from Miller at HCMC later measured his blood-alcohol concentration at 0.09%.
Investigation findings
Crash reconstruction showed the vehicle was traveling about 71 to 73 mph before it left the roadway, struck a power pole, rode up a guy wire and then hit the pole a second time, according to the West Central Tribune.
Investigators ruled out weather and mechanical problems as factors in the wreck, and both occupants had to be extricated from the vehicle at the scene, the outlet reports. Court documents also show that crash-detection software on Henke's phone alerted a family member to the collision at about 3:05 a.m.
Remembering Nolan Henke
Henke, a 2025 graduate of Dassel-Cokato High School, was remembered by his booster club as “a beast on that field, and he loved DC football,” the Star Tribune notes.
His online obituary describes him as the firstborn of twins who loved working with tools and had a passion for mechanics. Friends organized a GoFundMe to help the family, and memorial services were held in late August, according to local reports.
Charges and next steps
Miller was charged by summons on Feb. 9 with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide: one count alleging negligent operation of a motor vehicle and a second alleging negligent operation while under the influence, according to the West Central Tribune. His first appearance in Meeker County District Court is set for March 31, 2026.
Under Minnesota law, a conviction for criminal vehicular homicide can carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to $20,000, according to state statute Minn. Stat. 609.2112.
What happens next
The case remains pending in Meeker County. The March court calendar is expected to set an initial schedule for hearings and any pretrial deadlines.
Meanwhile, investigators with the Minnesota State Patrol and the Meeker County Sheriff's Office continue to compile reports, records and other evidence for prosecutors as the criminal case moves forward.
