Casey Jerald Daniels, 31, of Hibbing has admitted in court that he caused a July 27, 2024 UTV rollover that killed his passenger on a recreational trail between Chisholm and Buhl. Daniels pleaded guilty Friday in St. Louis County District Court to criminal vehicular homicide, acknowledging he was behind the wheel. Investigators later measured his blood-alcohol concentration above the legal limit. Sentencing is scheduled for July 16 at 1:30 p.m. in Hibbing.
Guilty Plea And Prosecutor's Statement
As reported by Northern News Now, Daniels pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide for driving with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more within two hours of driving, according to St. Louis County Attorney Kim Maki. Maki said Daniels' decision to operate a UTV after drinking was reckless and irresponsible and that it caused the death of his passenger and friend, the outlet noted. Under the plea deal, prosecutors say they will ask for a prison sentence, while Daniels is expected to ask the court for a downward departure from the sentencing guidelines.
Crash Details
Deputies were called on July 27, 2024 to a trail between Chisholm and Buhl after the UTV hit a berm and flipped, throwing both men from the vehicle, according to reporting from the Duluth News Tribune. The paper reported that the passenger was pronounced dead at the scene and that Daniels' blood-alcohol concentration tested at 0.113 in a sample taken about two hours after the crash. Court documents and deputies' accounts cited by the Tribune described empty alcohol containers and a cooler found near the wrecked UTV.
Legal Context
Minnesota's criminal vehicular homicide law covers deaths caused by operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or greater within two hours of driving. That statute can carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison. The statutory language is set out in Minnesota Statutes section 609.2112. How much time Daniels actually faces will depend on the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines and any aggravating or mitigating factors that are presented at the July hearing.
Next Steps
Daniels is due back in Hibbing District Court for sentencing on July 16 at 1:30 p.m., according to Northern News Now. Prosecutors have signaled they will push for a prison term under the plea agreement, while the defense may argue Daniels deserves a lesser sentence than the guidelines recommend. The judge will decide whether to follow the standard range or grant the departure Daniels is expected to request.
Why It Matters
Off-road crashes remain a stubborn public-safety issue in Minnesota, and ATV and UTV incidents keep landing on state officials' radar. The Grand Forks Herald has noted that traffic-safety authorities closely watch ATV and UTV fatalities, and Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths along with conservation officers continue to hammer home the basics: helmets, seatbelts and proper operator training. For Iron Range riders who treat those trails between towns like a second home, this case is a stark reminder of how quickly a night out can turn deadly when alcohol enters the mix.
