by Dennis Dalman
A Sartell woman is facing a felony charge of failure to stop after hitting a pedestrian with her car on a highway Feb. 16, then leaving the scene of the accident in St. Cloud.
Cadee Celeste Campbell, 21, faces one felony charge of failing to stop after a crash that resulted in injury or death. Campbell, the report states, was driving a 2011 Nissan Quest.
The pedestrian was identified as Robert Joseph Thomas, 54, from Parker, Colo., according to the St. Cloud Police Department report.
The crash occurred on the evening of Sunday, Feb. 16, just south of the intersection of Hwy. 23 (Division Street in St. Cloud) and Hwy. 15. The site is just northeast of the Barnes & Noble book store in St. Cloud.
A witness told law enforcement officials at the scene of the accident that she saw a vehicle move into that intersection when the vehicle hit the pedestrian.
Law enforcement at the scene saw the pedestrian, his injuries apparent though he was still alive and struggling to breathe. He was lying on a south-bound lane of Highway 15, according to the complaint. He was taken to CentraCare Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The criminal complaint stated Campbell left the scene and later called the police to say she was the driver at that crash site. She said she left the scene because she didn’t want to stop and get out of her car while her child was inside the vehicle. She later told authorities she was driving about 55 miles an hour, according to the report. That is 10 miles an hour faster than the posted speed limit on that area of Hwy. 15.
Campbell was taken to Stearns County Jail. Later, on Feb. 20, she posted a non-cash bond. An omnibus hearing for Campbell was set for March 17. If ultimately found to be guilty of the charge, Campbell could be sentenced to up to three years in prison and fined up to $5,000.
Caydee Celeste Campbell
