Crime & Safety
Lakeville Woman Charged in Crash That Killed Motorcyclist
The 77-year-old is facing two misdemeanor counts for her role in a crash that killed a Lakeville man.
A 77-year-old Lakeville woman has been charged with misdemeanor counts of careless driving and failure to yield, in connection with a crash last year that killed a Lakeville motorcyclist and severely injured his wife.
Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom announced today that Donna May Rollins, 77, of Lakeville, was charged for her part in the Oct. 16, 2010 crash in Eureka Township that killed Ricky Dean Ball, 62, of Lakeville. His wife, Nancy Ball, 61, was severely injured. Both were riding their own motorcycles.
The fatal crash occurred on Cedar Avenue south of 230th Street. According to the criminal complaint, Rollins' vehicle made a left-hand turn into a driveway, cutting off the Balls as they were traveling southbound.
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Ricky died at the scene and Nancy was airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul with severe injuries.
The criminal complaint said investigators ruled out road and weather conditions, and equipment and mechanical failure as factors in the crash.
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"The investigation determined that the sole contributing factor to the crash was Rollins' failure to yield the right of way to the southbound traffic," the complaint said.
"Our deepest sympathy is extended to the family of Ricky Ball for their great loss and we hope that Nancy Ball continues to recover from her serious injuries," Backstrom said Wednesday in a statement.
Rollins was charged by summons and her first court appearance will be sometime in June in Hastings.
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