Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bemidji woman is facing a gross misdemeanor DWI charge after a crash involving a young child, according to a criminal complaint filed in Beltrami County.
Crash and charge
Court records identify the defendant as Karin Lynn Fairbanks, 59, of Bemidji. The charge stems from a March 23, 2026, crash in Bemidji. The case was filed in Minnesota’s 9th Judicial District.
The complaint says the crash happened at about 11:10 a.m. near 4501 Birchmont Drive NE. A caller, Kyle Redland, told police he saw a vehicle go over a curb and down a hill. He estimated the speed at about 50 mph. He also reported hearing a child scream.
According to the complaint, the people inside the vehicle left the scene before officers arrived. The caller said he then saw a woman and a child walking away from the crash.
What the complaint says
The complaint says officers found Fairbanks on Thorson Boulevard NE. A child, identified in court records as K.B., was found nearby. The child was later taken by ambulance for facial abrasions, according to the filing.
Investigators wrote that Fairbanks appeared drowsy and had watery eyes. The complaint also says she had an unsteady gait. Fairbanks told police she was taking the child to school when a dog crossed the road. She said she swerved to avoid it.
The filing says officers saw dry and clear road conditions. It also says Fairbanks could not complete field sobriety tests in a satisfactory way.
According to the complaint, officers later found an unlabeled pill bottle with pills identified as gabapentin, buprenorphine hydrochloride/naloxone, and lorazepam. Court records say Fairbanks was taken to Sanford Bemidji Medical Center, where a blood sample was obtained under a search warrant.
Case status
Fairbanks is charged under Minnesota’s DWI law with a gross misdemeanor count involving an alleged combination of substances and an aggravating factor. The complaint notes her driving privileges were valid at the time listed in the filing.
As with all criminal cases, the charge is an allegation. Guilt must be proven in court. More information on the case may be available through the Beltrami County District Court. Minnesota’s DWI statute can be viewed through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes. Sanford Bemidji Medical Center information is available here.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.