Prison Time Announced In Crash That Killed Burnsville Teen

BURNSVILLE, MN — James Robert Lapsley, 21, of Prior Lake was sentenced Monday to 48 months in prison in connection with a fatal single-car crash on Interstate 35W in Burnsville on May 26, 2018.

Lapsley was driving at the time of the collision, police said. The crash killed Lapsley's passenger, 19-year-old Kayli Thompson, of Burnsville.

Lapsley pled guilty on Jan. 6 to one count of criminal vehicular homicide (gross negligence) in this case.

On May 26, 2018 around 7:30 a.m., police were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash with injuries on I-35W near County Road 42 in Burnsville.

A Ford Fusion was seen with heavy front-end damage, and a woman was trapped inside the car. Police said the Fusion had veered off the interstate and hit a sound barrier wall.

Lapsley, who was already out of the Fusion, was bleeding from his knee and had scrapes on his arms and legs, according to a news release. He admitted to driving, police said.

A witness stated that he had been driving south on I-35W when he saw the Fusion driving erratically and at a high rate of speed, according to the criminal complaint. The witness also reported that the Fusion nearly hit the median barrier at least twice and was not maintaining its lane.

The Fusion drove past him out of view and he next saw it in the ditch to the right of I-35W after he came to the top of a hill.

Emergency medical personnel tried to revive the woman, but she died at the scene. Officers spoke to Lapsley and noted his bloodshot, glassy eyes and slurred speech, the criminal complaint states.

A search warrant was executed for a sample of Lapsley’s blood, which later tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It was determined from the accident reconstruction that the Fusion was travelling at approximately 83 miles per hour when it hit the barrier wall.

"This is another tragic example of impaired and negligent driving that claimed a life on our roads," Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said in a statement.

"Our sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Kayli Thompson for their great loss."