Man Sentenced for Minnetonka Crash That Severely Injured Teen
The scene of the March 5th crash in Minnetonka. Via MnDOT
A Minnetonka man was sentenced Wednesday in Hennepin County Court after pleading guilty to criminal vehicular operation last December.
The high-speed, two-vehicle crash left a Hopkins High School student seriously injured last year in Minnetonka.
As part of a plea deal, Mohamed Aydarus Salad, 30, received an 18-month prison sentence, which was stayed for three years. He was ordered to serve 364 days in the Hennepin County Workhouse, with eligibility for work release and electronic home monitoring after 180 days. He was also placed on three years of supervised probation with conditions, including cognitive skills training, a mental health evaluation and employment requirements. He received credit for 181 days already served.
The crash occurred on March 5, 2024, just before 12:30 a.m. on Highway 7 near Williston Road. Investigators said Salad was driving a black BMW at excessive speeds when he ran a red light and crashed into a Honda Accord driven by 17-year-old Lauren Olson, who was turning onto southbound Williston Road. The impact sent both vehicles spinning, with Salad’s car coming to rest on the highway and the Honda stopping in a ditch.
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Olson suffered life-threatening injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and multiple broken bones. She spent a week in a coma and was hospitalized for a month following the crash. Responding officers found her trapped inside her vehicle, conscious but in significant pain. Minnetonka firefighters extricated Olson, who was then transported to Hennepin Healthcare for treatment.
Crash reconstruction revealed Salad was traveling between 68 and 74 mph at the time of impact, despite the posted speed limit being 55 mph. Data retrieved from his BMW’s airbag control module showed he was driving 96 mph five seconds before the crash and 86 mph just half a second before impact. Surveillance footage also captured him speeding and passing vehicles on the right shoulder before the intersection.
At the time of the crash, Salad’s driving privileges were revoked. His record includes prior convictions for driving after suspension and careless driving.
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