Driver Charged in Head-on Crash That Killed Child, Hurt 4 Others

Mar 20, 2025

A Coon Rapids woman faces felony charges after allegedly driving under the influence of meth and causing a deadly head-on crash.

The collision left several people injured including five young children, two of whom were in the suspect’s own vehicle.

Authorities say the crash occurred around 6:18 p.m. on March 14, 2025, along Rush Lake Trail in Nessel Township in Chisago County. When deputies arrived at the scene, they found two vehicles with severe front-end damage: a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze and a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivan.

Investigators identified the driver of the Chevrolet as Ashlee Rose Klapperick, 36, who had two small children in the backseat. According to court documents, a four-year-old child in Klapperick’s vehicle was unresponsive, found not breathing and without a pulse when deputies arrived. After performing chest compressions for around 11 minutes, paramedics were able to detect a faint pulse.

The child was airlifted to Regions Hospital in Saint Paul, where doctors determined the child had suffered a significant brain injury in the crash. The child remains on life support in critical condition as of publication. A three-year-old child, also in Klapperick’s vehicle, suffered a broken collarbone and was transported to the hospital by ambulance.

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The minivan involved in the crash was driven by a woman with three juvenile passengers: ages nine, four and three. The woman suffered a fractured foot and significant bruising, while her nine-year-old child had a fractured tibia. The other two children suffered bruises, scrapes and burn marks and were taken by ambulance to Hennepin County Medical Center for treatment.

According to the court documents, a witness driving behind the minivan saw Klapperick’s Chevrolet Cruze cross into oncoming traffic, forcing the minivan driver to swerve in an attempt to avoid a collision. But Klapperick abruptly attempted to correct course, striking the minivan head-on.

At the scene, deputies spoke with Klapperick, who admitted she had been doing what she called “squeezy blinks” while driving, describing it as closing her eyes for short periods. She also stated she had used methamphetamine a few days prior and marijuana the previous day. A drug recognition expert on scene noted that Klapperick displayed several indicators of impairment including difficulty keeping her eyes open, droopy eyelids and watery eyes with a dazed expression. She also reportedly had poor hygiene, the documents said.

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A subsequent search of her vehicle led to the discovery of a glass pipe with suspect drug residue, folded tin foil and a small tin container holding a crystal-like substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Deputies obtained a search warrant for a blood sample, which was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for toxicology testing.

Klapperick was taken to Regions Hospital for treatment following the crash and is now facing six charges of criminal vehicular operation, including four felony counts for causing great bodily harm or substantial bodily harm while under the influence of a controlled substance and two gross misdemeanor charges for causing bodily harm while under the influence of a controlled substance. She faces up to five years in prison on the most serious charge.

Klapperick was released from the hospital and taken into custody before making her initial court appearance on Wednesday. She’s being held on $150,000 bail with conditions including random testing, no driving allowed and an order to stay out of bars and liquor stores. Her next court appearance is scheduled for April 7, 2025.

UPDATE | 4 p.m., Thursday, March 20

The Chisago County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the four-year-old male passenger who was in Klapperick’s vehicle died at the hospital around 12:25 p.m. Thursday from injuries he sustained in the crash. The Chisago County Attorney’s Office will be reviewing the case for additional charges against Klapperick, authorities say.

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