Minnesota Mom Heads to Prison for Son’s Death in Crash

North Branch, MN (MinnesotaNow) - A Minnesota woman is headed to prison in connection with a traffic crash earlier this year that claimed the life of her young son.

According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, investigators suspected 36-year-old Ashlee Klapperick was impaired by methamphetamine and marijuana when the vehicle she was driving crossed over the center line on a rural road in east-central Minnesota and collided head-on with a minivan. The Mora woman had two young children in her SUV, while the minivan was occupied by a woman and three children.

Chisago County Jail photo

Two Children Airlifted After the Collision

Following the crash, the Chisago County Sheriff's Office reported that both of Klapperick's children, ages 3 and 4, were seriously injured and were airlifted to a hospital in the Twin Cities. The four occupants of the minivan were transported by ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries.

The criminal complaint says the 4-year-old child suffered a significant brain injury and was placed on life support. After six days in intensive care, life support was terminated, and the child was pronounced dead on March 20.

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Klapperick Pleads Guilty to Criminal Vehicular Homicide

Klapperick was charged with one count of criminal vehicular homicide, three counts of felony criminal vehicular operation, and two gross misdemeanor counts of criminal vehicular operation. She appeared before a judge in Chisago County in August and entered guilty pleas to the criminal vehicular homicide charge and one of the felony counts of criminal vehicular operation.

Klapperick was sentenced this morning to four years in prison. She was given credit for 224 days she has already served in jail.