Fatal crash victim identified

Published 9:52 am Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Mower County Sheriff Steve Sandvik released the identity of a man killed in a fatal car crash last week.

William Richard Regner, 89, of Austin was driving westbound on County Road 28 at about 5:17 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, when his vehicle, a 1998 Dodge Caravan, was involved in an accident with a 2001 Ford F-350 at the intersection of County Roads 28 and 29.

Regner was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Sandvik said the Ford had heavy front-end damage, while the Dodge was damaged on the driver side.

The Ford’s driver, Christopher Robert Stewart, 31, of Austin was arrested at the scene. He was charged with felony criminal vehicular homicide-operate vehicle in a negligent manner while under the influence of a controlled substance, misdemeanor fourth-degree DWI-under the influence of a controlled substance and misdemeanor driving after revocation of his license on Friday in Mower County District Court.

The crash is still under investigation by the Minnesota State Patrol, Sandvik said. A blood sample was taken from Stewart and sent to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension laboratory for analysis; results are pending.