Cass Lake Man Charged After Highway 2 Crash

Cass Lake (trfnews.i234.me) — A Cass Lake man faces four charges after a two-vehicle crash on Highway 2.

Edmund Louis Williams Jr., 22, is charged in Cass County District Court. The charges include gross misdemeanor driving while impaired.

He also faces misdemeanor counts of careless driving, obstructing the legal process, and fleeing an officer on foot.

The charges are allegations. Williams is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Crash Reported Near Cass Lake

According to the complaint, a Dodge Grand Caravan approached Highway 2 from 65th Avenue Northwest.

The vehicle allegedly rolled through a stop sign and struck a westbound Nissan Sentra.

Both vehicles were disabled, and debris covered part of the highway. Emergency medical workers responded to the scene.

Williams allegedly told authorities that his head hurt after the crash.

The complaint says he showed several possible signs of alcohol use. Those signs included watery eyes, poor balance, and slurred speech.

Authorities also reported finding two empty 24-ounce beer bottles inside the Dodge.

Williams was taken by ambulance to Sanford Hospital in Bemidji, according to the complaint.

He allegedly failed to provide a complete preliminary breath sample at the crash scene.

The complaint says he again declined testing at the hospital.

Authorities then told Williams that they planned to seek a search warrant. The warrant would request a blood or urine sample.

When authorities returned to his hospital room, Williams was no longer there.

A hospital employee reportedly said Williams had left with family members.

The complaint alleges that he left to avoid detention or further investigation.

The DWI count carries a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail. It also carries a possible $3,000 fine.

The complaint cites a 2023 DWI test-refusal case as an aggravating factor.

Each misdemeanor count carries up to 90 days in jail. Each may also carry a fine of up to $1,000.

The complaint lists May 21, 2026, as the offense date. However, its probable-cause section describes the crash as occurring May 16.

Readers can review Minnesota DWI laws through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.

Public court information is available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.