July 10 – An Albert Lea man, charged with multiple counts related to a single-vehicle crash in February, reached a plea deal with the Mower County District Attorney’s Office.
Devon McCormick Lee, 20, of Albert Lea, has been charged with felony charges of operating a felony vehicle, a single felony flight from a peace officer, two felony misdemeanors operating a felony vehicle and of three misdemeanors, including impaired driving in the fourth degree, open bottle and speeding.
During a hearing in Mower County District Court on Monday, Lee pleaded guilty to the charge of fleeing a peace officer as well as the two felony misdemeanors of driving a felony vehicle.
He initially pleaded not guilty to all eight counts.
The official sentencing will take place on October 5.
Lee was the driver of a vehicle that, according to a Minnesota State Patrol report, lost control and crashed into the median at approximately 12:02 a.m. on the morning of February 6, 2023. The car also contained two passengers: Gavin, 19 years old. Gene Lawson of Albert Lea and an unidentified 17 year old male, both transported to Mayo Clinic Health Systems – Austin.
According to the court complaint, Lee was recorded by a Minnesota state trooper going at 111 mph and later was recorded at 123 mph in a 65 mph. A chase was initiated and during the chase speeds reached 130 mph, however, according to Lawson and the miner, speeds reached 140 mph.
Near the end of the chase, which lasted about two minutes and covered three miles, Lee failed to negotiate a curve and overcorrected. The Acura he was driving crossed both lanes of traffic and collided with the cement barrier with its front end, coming to rest in the eastbound ditch at mile marker 179.
When asked after the crash, Lee said he was going 145 mph at the time of the crash.
A search of the vehicle revealed two liquor bottles that were unopened, another that was still three-quarters full, and a fourth that was almost empty. The soldiers also found a marijuana pipe and a plastic bag containing marijuana residue.
According to the complaint, Lee had also failed all the sobriety tests administered to him, although he claimed he had not had a drink since 7 p.m. Monday evening.