Pennington County (trfnews.i234.me) A Newfolden man is facing a gross misdemeanor DWI charge after a crash near U.S. Highway 59, according to a criminal complaint filed in Minnesota District Court.
Charge Filed
Prosecutors charged David Wayne Jenson, 61, of Newfolden, with third-degree driving while impaired. The complaint says the case stems from an April 2, 2026, crash in Pennington County.
The filing says Jenson’s alcohol concentration measured .19. That is above the .16 threshold listed in the charge.
What Investigators Said
According to the complaint, a state trooper found a maroon Chevrolet Impala in a ditch near Highway 59 and 180th Street NE. The vehicle was partly in ditch water caused by spring flooding.
Authorities said fresh snow showed the car had been heading westbound and missed a right turn. The vehicle then slid into the opposite ditch.
Court records say Jenson was standing nearby and using a cell phone. He allegedly said the roads were slippery and he was heading home.
The complaint says the responding officer noticed poor balance, bloodshot eyes, watery eyes, and a strong odor of alcohol. Jenson allegedly first said he had two beers, then said he had three.
Test Results
The complaint says Jenson took part in limited field sobriety testing. No more tests were done because of reported medical issues.
A preliminary breath test showed a result of .193, according to the filing. A later breath test at the law enforcement center showed .19, the complaint says.
Jenson has been charged, but he has not been convicted. The charge remains an allegation unless proven in court. Case information may appear through the Minnesota Court Records system.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.