Trucker Acquitted of Charges From Deadly Pileup Near Rochester

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A truck driver from Tennessee has been acquitted of charges stemming from a deadly pileup on Highway 52 north of Rochester several years ago.

61-year-old Christopher Huffine was charged with a gross misdemeanor count of reckless driving, a misdemeanor count of the same charge, and another misdemeanor count of careless driving after the semi-truck he was driving smashed into three passenger vehicles and two other semi-trucks on the morning of December 15, 2021. The criminal complaint says the fatal collision occurred between Oronoco and Pine Island in dense fog.

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According to the criminal complaint, traffic on the northbound lanes of Highway 52 had come to a halt in that area due to a collision involving two trucks that left one of the semis blocking both of the northbound lanes. Three passenger vehicles were stopped on the roadway and two other vehicles had pulled over along the right shoulder when the crash occurred.

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The crash took the life of 65-year-old Bonita Sawyer of Rochester. She was a passenger in a car driven by 67-year-old Debra Bieber of Rochester, who suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Three other people, all Twin Cities residents, also suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a multi-vehicle collision.

The court document says Huffine gave a statement to a State Trooper that he was traveling at more than 60 mph when he observed some activity on the right shoulder of the highway and moved over to the left lane. He went on to say that his passenger then started yelling that there were cars in front of them and he slammed on the brakes, but it was too late.

Huffine criminal complaint - Olmsted County Court

The case was presented to an Olmsted County jury during a two day trial that began on Tuesday. The jury returned a not guilty verdict on all of the charges on Wednesday.

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