Nicollet County Man Charged After Loose Cattle Cause Highway 14 Crashes, Injuring Two

Nicollet County, MN (trfnews.i234.me)—A 46-year-old Nicollet County man is facing multiple misdemeanor charges after his cattle wandered onto U.S. Highway 14, causing a series of vehicle collisions that left two people injured and all three cows dead.

Series of Collisions on Highway 14

  • On July 24, 2024, three cows owned by Aaron Duane Lambrecht escaped their enclosure and wandered onto Highway 14 near milepost 116.
  • Three eastbound vehicles struck the cattle in separate crashes:
    • One vehicle rolled over and landed on its roof, leaving the driver with a broken leg and a back fracture.
    • Another vehicle struck a cow and veered into a ditch, with the driver escaping without injury.
    • The third vehicle also hit a cow and went into the ditch, and the driver was treated for cuts and glass dust in their eyes at a hospital.

Repeat Offender: 22 Prior Reports of Loose Livestock

According to the criminal complaint, Lambrecht’s cattle have repeatedly escaped over the years:

  • The Nicollet County Sheriff’s Office has responded to 22 incidents involving his loose livestock since 2021.
  • Past reports included cattle wandering near or onto the highway.
  • Despite previous warnings and citations, Lambrecht failed to properly secure fencing on his property.

Charges and Potential Penalties

Lambrecht is now facing five misdemeanor charges, including:

  • Public Nuisance
  • Animal Mistreatment

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.

Next Steps

  • An initial court date for Lambrecht has not yet been scheduled.
  • Authorities have not ruled out additional penalties related to endangering public safety.

Further updates will be provided as court proceedings continue.

I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me

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