Man Charged in Fatal Itasca Co. Crash, Claims Dead Friend was Driving

A Bemidji man has been charged with Criminal Vehicular Homicide after allegedly driving drunk and rolling his truck, killing his friend. 

29-year-old Christopher Smith, of Bemidij, was charged Wednesday with one felony count of Criminal Vehicular Homicide and two counts of misdemeanor Fourth Degree Driving While Impaired. 

The charges stem from a vehicle roll-over on Highway 65 near Goodland on March 17.  According to the Minnesota State patrol, a truck was traveling southbound on Highway 65 when it left the road and rolled into the ditch. 

56-year-old Mark Wirtjes was ejected from the car and was pronounced dead on scene.   

According to the criminal complaint, Smith allegedly told police that Wirtjes had been driving at the time of the crash.  Another passenger, Michael Vail, told police he was passed out and didn’t know who was driving.  Both men were uncooperative in identifying the driver of the car.  

Authorities on scene said they could smell a strong odor of alcohol on the men . 

Smith and Vail each underwent breath tests.  Smith registered a blood alcohol level of 0.108.  Vail’s blood alcohol content was .196. 

The men were taken to local  hospitals and treated for non-life threatening injuries. 

Before leaving the hospital, authorities collected Smith’s belongings. They found a key to the truck in his coat pocket. 

According to the criminal complaint, nurses at the Hibbing hospital said Smith had injuries to the left side of his body consistent with him being the driver of the car involved in the crash. 

Vail was interviewed by police after leaving the hospital.  He told them the men were drinking at Wirtjes’ home in Bovey when they decided to go to Black Bear Casino.  Vail told police Smith was the driver,  the complaint alleges.  He told police after the truck rolled and came to a rest, that he was the only one still inside of the car.   Vail said after the crash that Smith repeatedly stated “I’m so f—–“.

Bail has been set for Smith at $50,000 without conditions, or $35,000 with conditions and $25,000 with conditions, including electronic home monitoring.  Terms of bail include drug and alcohol restrictions with random spot checks, no driving a motor vehicle, and no leaving the state of Minnesota without court permission.