Ramsey County (trfnews.i234.me) — Austin Wah, 25, has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation resulting in great bodily harm following a fatal crash in St. Paul on May 9. Authorities report that Wah was driving under the influence when he crashed into a tree near his residence, killing one passenger and seriously injuring another.
According to court documents, police responded to the 260 block of Cottage Avenue West just before 10 a.m. and found a Toyota Corolla that had collided head-on with a tree. A man in the front passenger seat was partially pinned and in significant pain, while another man was found unresponsive with his legs in the back seat and his head on the lap of the front passenger. Both were transported to Regions Hospital in critical condition. The man in the back seat died two days later on May 11.
Investigators discovered two vodka bottles near the crash site—one empty and one partially full—and noted the absence of skid marks, indicating no attempt to brake before the collision. Witnesses reported seeing a bald Asian male in a pink graphic shirt exit the driver’s seat with visible injuries and walk away from the scene. A witness led officers to an apartment on the same block, where Wah answered the door shirtless and bleeding, matching the suspect’s description. Officers detected the smell of alcohol on his breath.
Wah’s grandfather informed police that Wah had been drinking earlier that morning. Initially, Wah denied consuming alcohol but later admitted to having two beers. He claimed he was asked to drive because the others were too intoxicated and alleged that the front passenger interfered with the steering wheel. However, the front passenger refuted this, stating that Wah was the driver and no one else had touched the wheel.
A blood sample taken from Wah at the hospital around 1:53 p.m. revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.37—more than four times the legal limit. Investigators estimate the vehicle was traveling at 60 miles per hour at the time of the crash. Police later recovered Wah’s shirt and two beer cans from his bedroom. Wah admitted to driving only a short distance before the crash, failing to call for help, and leaving the scene knowing both passengers were severely injured.
Wah remains hospitalized due to his injuries and has been charged by warrant. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison for the criminal vehicular homicide charge.
Did you know? Case Facts:
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Defendant: Austin Wah
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Age: 25
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Residence: St. Paul, Minnesota
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Date of Incident: May 9, 2025
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Location: 260 block of Cottage Avenue West, St. Paul
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Charges: Criminal vehicular homicide; criminal vehicular operation resulting in great bodily harm
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Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC): 0.37
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Speed at Impact: Approximately 60 mph
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Victims: One deceased (53-year-old man); one seriously injured (34-year-old man)
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Evidence: Two vodka bottles near the crash site; no skid marks; a pink graphic shirt and beer cans found in Wah’s apartment
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.