Bemidji Woman Charged in Stolen-Car Injury Crash

BEMIDJI (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bemidji woman faces felony charges after a July 7 crash seriously injured another driver.

Jamie Marie Hurd is charged in Beltrami County District Court with criminal vehicular operation causing substantial bodily harm.

She also faces felony motor vehicle theft and a gross misdemeanor for leaving an injury crash.

Crash Reported at Bemidji Intersection

According to the complaint, police responded around 12:43 p.m. to Roosevelt Road Southeast and Pershing Avenue Southeast.

Investigators found a Ford Fusion and a Toyota Corolla damaged at the intersection.

The Ford driver reported chest pain and was taken for medical care.

The complaint says Hurd was driving the Toyota. She allegedly told police she took the car from her aunt.

The vehicle’s owner later told investigators she had not given Hurd permission to drive it.

Hurd also allegedly said she consumed alcohol before driving.

Police reported smelling alcohol and hearing slurred speech. They also reported seeing signs of impairment.

Investigators said the Toyota entered the intersection from Pershing Avenue. A stop sign controls traffic on that road.

A witness allegedly said the Toyota failed to stop or yield. The Ford then struck the Toyota’s driver side.

Police told Hurd to remain at the crash scene. The complaint alleges she ran while officers checked the injured driver.

Other officers found Hurd after a brief foot pursuit. She then surrendered and was taken into custody.

Hurd later completed field sobriety testing. The complaint says police observed clues of impairment.

She allegedly refused a preliminary breath test and another breath test request.

Police obtained a warrant for a blood sample. The sample was collected around 8:26 p.m. at a Bemidji emergency room.

The complaint does not list the blood test result.

The Ford driver was admitted to Sanford Hospital. She reported suffering a fractured sternum during the crash.

The driver was monitored because the fracture was close to her heart, according to the complaint.

Hurd’s license was suspended at the time, the complaint states.

The criminal vehicular operation charge carries up to three years in prison and a possible $10,000 fine.

More information about that offense is available under Minnesota Statute 609.2113.

The vehicle theft charge carries up to five years in prison and a possible $10,000 fine.

Theft laws are listed under Minnesota Statute 609.52.

Crash-scene driver duties are covered by Minnesota Statute 169.09.

The case number is 04-CR-26-1562. Public case information may be available through Minnesota Court Records Online.

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

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.