Man sentenced to a month in jail in crash that killed couple

Published 10:07 am Tuesday, September 13, 2016

MANKATO — A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to a month in jail for causing a crash that killed a North Mankato couple.

Christopher Schneider pleaded guilty to careless driving in the July 2015 crash that killed 75-year-old Kathy Ohman and 74-year-old Rod Ebert. The two had left a dance performance at the Blue Earth County Fair and were headed home when Schneider blew through a stop sign and crashed into their vehicle.

According to a press release, Schneider was reportedly driving without a license. He says he looked down to put out his cigarette just before the crash. Prosecutors said the case did not meet the threshold for felony charges.

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A Blue Earth County District Court judge on Monday also ordered Schneider to deliver 30 community presentations to groups about distracted driving and serve a year of probation.