Report: Driver had drugs in system

A 21-year-old driver, who struck and killed a pedestrian in Moose Lake in March, is now facing additional charges after blood tests revealed the presence of four drugs in his system.

Brent James Keranen, of Pengilly, Minnesota, waived his right to an omnibus hearing Monday morning in a remote hearing held with Sixth District Carlton County judge Rebekka Stumme. Keranen’s attorney, David Keegan, requested a settlement conference versus a jury trial, an indication they’re looking for a plea deal.

According to the criminal complaint, Keranen admitted to drinking late into the night with friends Wednesday, March 20, after working “a lot of hours” in the Twin Cities area that week. He was still tired and allegedly buzzed when he started to make his way north to his hometown in Pengilly, near Hibbing.

He was so out of it that he fell asleep and grazed a Minnesota state trooper’s vehicle while leaving the metro area that morning. He was pulled over and received a citation. The trooper checked his blood alcohol level and it was at 0.066, under the 0.08 legal limit to drive.

Keranen was determined to continue driving. He pulled over for an energy drink and continued his way north. It was just after 2 p.m. March 21 that Keranen struck and killed Justin McNeil, who was walking back from the Dollar General store at the intersection of Minnesota Highway 73 and Jon Brown Drive to his home across the highway at Lake Shore Manor Apartments.

Keranen told police that a song he liked came on the radio and he began to play “air guitar,” when suddenly his vehicle’s air bags deployed. He claimed to not know he hit a person.

Tire tracks showed the car had veered right out of the driving lane, striking McNeil, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

A roadside test at the scene put Keranen’s blood alcohol concentration at 0.06, under the legal limit of 0.08. A law enforcement officer still detected “clues of impairment.”

While a blood sample sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension showed a blood alcohol content slightly lower at 0.054, it also revealed he had methamphetamine- and cocaine-related substances, plus delta 8 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC from hemp), and delta 9 (THC from the cannabis) chemicals in his blood. Delta 8- and 9 products give the user a high. Both are available in many forms, including gummies and vaping cartridges.

As a result, the Carlton County Attorney’s Office added two felony charges to the initial charge. He now faces three counts of criminal vehicular homicide: the first for operating a motor vehicle “in grossly negligent manner” and the others for operating a vehicle while under the influence of THC and other controlled substances. All three charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years or $20,000 or both.

Judge Stumme set an in-person settlement hearing for 9 a.m. Oct. 2 at the new Carlton County Justice Center, noting that all future hearings will be in person. Keranen has been out on cash bail since March 22. His bail is set at $250,000.