Drunken driver pleads guilty in South St. Paul crash that killed her ex, injured 2 others

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An Eden Prairie woman has admitted to drunkenly crashing her minivan into an oncoming pickup in South St. Paul, killing her ex-husband and injuring two other people.

Bobbie Jo Puttbrese, 53, pleaded guilty Tuesday to criminal vehicular homicide and two counts of criminal vehicular operation in the June 5 crash on Concord Street that killed Paul Edward Craven, a 60-year-old from St. Paul who had previously been married to Puttbrese.

Bobbie Jo Puttbrese (Courtesy of Dakota County Sheriff’s Office)

Puttbrese entered a “straight plea,” meaning there is no agreement between the defense and the prosecution on the terms of her sentence. Her sentencing has been set for Jan. 18.

South St. Paul police collected surveillance video from a nearby business that showed Puttbrese’s minivan traveling south on Concord Street, crossing the centerline near Chestnut Street and colliding with the pickup, which was headed north, according to the complaint.

A breath test revealed she had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.201 — more than twice the legal limit to drive, the complaint said.

Her criminal history includes misdemeanor convictions for driving under the influence in 1993 and 2000.

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