Last Friday on a stretch of Minnesota Highway 11 east of Roseau, a head-on collision left one woman dead and another facing a felony homicide charge. Investigators say 82-year-old Barbara Lee Welberg was killed when her Kia Sorento was struck by a pickup that crossed the center line. The other driver, 43-year-old Shauna Rae Dokken, later told authorities her dog grabbed the steering wheel just before impact, according to court papers. Dokken has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide and remains in custody.
Crash Details From Troopers and Court Papers
The Minnesota State Patrol incident report places the collision at Milepost 76 on Highway 11 in Spruce Township and lists both drivers, matching information in the criminal complaint. According to those records, Dokken’s pickup crossed over into oncoming traffic and hit Welberg’s Kia Sorento head-on. Welberg, of Baudette, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Driver's Account, Medications and Testing
Prosecutors say Dokken offered different explanations in the aftermath of the crash. At one point, she told investigators that her dog distracted her and grabbed or twisted the steering wheel, according to the criminal complaint. Troopers wrote that Dokken’s speech was slurred. She told officers she had taken Buspar, lorazepam and Adderall that day. A preliminary breath test registered .000. Investigators then obtained a warrant for a blood draw, which was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for testing and is still pending.
Witness Reports and Driving History
Multiple witnesses reported seeing the pickup swerving into oncoming traffic before the crash, according to accounts based on the complaint. One person said they followed the truck in an effort to get its license plate number. Court records show Dokken was on probation after a May 2025 conviction for driving under the influence of drugs. Following the collision, she was jailed and now faces a felony criminal vehicular homicide charge that carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
What Happens Next
A detention order signed June 1 keeps Dokken behind bars as the case moves forward in Roseau County District Court. Prosecutors and investigators say they will review the Minnesota BCA blood test results when they come back and then decide whether additional charges are warranted. The investigation remains active as authorities work through witness statements, physical evidence and lab reports.
Investigators are asking anyone with dash-cam video or other information related to the crash to contact local law enforcement as the probe continues.
