Ada Man Charged After Ditch Crash, Breath Test .11

Norman County (trfnews.i234.me) A 51-year-old Ada man is charged after a reported ditch crash.

Nathan Timothy Riepe, 51, of Ada, faces one count of third-degree driving while impaired.

The charge is a gross misdemeanor under Minnesota Statute 169A.26.

Court records show the case was filed on January 5, 2026.

The alleged crash was reported on January 3, 2026, between Halstad and Hendrum.

What deputies reported

According to the complaint, deputies were alerted by a tipster about a possible drunk driver.

The tipster said Riepe called and reported he drove into a ditch.

The tipster also said Riepe admitted he had been drinking.

Deputies later located Riepe at his home in Ada, the complaint says.

Deputies said he was still drinking alcohol at the residence.

Riepe told deputies he called a towing service after the crash, the complaint says.

He said a man named Lance picked him up near the crash site.

Riepe first said he drank at a bar in Halstad, according to the complaint.

He later said he had been drinking at a bar in Hendrum.

He also claimed he drank more alcohol after he got home.

Deputies ran field tests and then used a breath test, the complaint says.

The test showed an alcohol concentration of 0.11.

Under Minnesota Statute 169A.20, 0.08 or more can support a DWI charge.

Investigators also found a prior DWI conviction dated October 24, 2022.

That prior case was listed as an aggravating factor in the new charge.

Judge Matti R. Adam set bail at $0 with conditions, court records show.

An option for a $3,000 bail without conditions was also listed.

A charge is not proof of guilt.

More case details may appear on Minnesota Court Records Online.

Community information is also available from the Norman County Sheriff’s Office.

For a plain-language overview of DWI laws, see this Minnesota House Research brief.

I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.

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