PRESTON, Minn. –A judge has ruled to allow a woman to be tried on 17 counts in a fatal 2023 traffic crash into a horse-drawn Amish buggy. Four other counts against Samantha Petersen, age 36, will be dismissed, said Fillmore County Judge Jeremy Clinefelter. The dismissed charges:
> Two counts of criminal vehicular homicide while under the influence.
> Two counts criminal vehicular operation while under the influence.
Judge Clinefelter’s ruling was a mixed bag for Samantha Petersen. But there was an upside for her. With four counts dismissed, Petersen’s attorney is expected to proceed with plea-bargaining with the Fillmore County prosecutor. Investigators initially concluded that Samantha had conspired with her twin sister Sarah to exchange places at the accident scene to confuse police about who was driving. Meanwhile Sarah still faces 16 separate charges for the wreck. Two Amish children, ages 7 and 11, died in the crash.
Earlier: End in sight for twins in 2013 Amish fatalities?