2nd man charged in racing crash that injured woman

By Sarah Smithssmith@parkrapidsenterprise.com A second driver has been charged in connection with an August race that left a college student critically injured. Lee Richard Branstrom, 24, Nevis, has incurred five charges in the crash that injured Mitchell Dirks and Bobbie Gully Aug. 9.
The complaint states Branstrom and Dirks were racing their pickups on County Road 48 after an evening of drinking and that Dirks’ pickup went out of control and crashed near 200th Street. Dirks suffered a skull fracture and collapsed lung, the complaint states. Gully, who was a passenger in the Dirks vehicle, was critically injured and was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale. She was placed in a medically induced coma and part of her skull was removed, the criminal complaint said, to relieve that pressure. She also sustained rib fractures, collapsed lungs, a liver and spleen laceration and fractured pelvis. Branstrom is charged with two counts of Criminal Vehicular Operation, two counts of Traffic Collision – Driver Fail to Stop and Failure to Notify Police of a Personal Injury and Reckless driving. The CVO counts carry a maximum of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine; the Traffic Collision charges each carry a maximum of two years in prison and/or a $4,000 fine and the Reckless Driving charge is punishable by a maximum of 90 days and/or a $1,000 fine. Gully will be moved to a St. Cloud facility later this week. She just recently assumed posting messages on her Caring Bridge site, thanking people for their support. She will also be having surgery this week to repair the skull flap that was removed to eliminate pressure on her brain. Dirks has been similarly charged in the incident. Branstrom has been arraigned. An omnibus hearing is set for Nov. 17. Dirks next appears Nov. 10 in Hubbard County District Court.By Sarah Smithssmith@parkrapidsenterprise.comA second driver has been charged in connection with an August race that left a college student critically injured.Lee Richard Branstrom, 24, Nevis, has incurred five charges in the crash that injured Mitchell Dirks and Bobbie Gully Aug. 9.
The complaint states Branstrom and Dirks were racing their pickups on County Road 48 after an evening of drinking and that Dirks’ pickup went out of control and crashed near 200th Street.Dirks suffered a skull fracture and collapsed lung, the complaint states.Gully, who was a passenger in the Dirks vehicle, was critically injured and was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale.She was placed in a medically induced coma and part of her skull was removed, the criminal complaint said, to relieve that pressure. She also sustained rib fractures, collapsed lungs, a liver and spleen laceration and fractured pelvis.Branstrom is charged with two counts of Criminal Vehicular Operation, two counts of Traffic Collision – Driver Fail to Stop and Failure to Notify Police of a Personal Injury and Reckless driving.The CVO counts carry a maximum of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine; the Traffic Collision charges each carry a maximum of two years in prison and/or a $4,000 fine and the Reckless Driving charge is punishable by a maximum of 90 days and/or a $1,000 fine.Gully will be moved to a St. Cloud facility later this week. She just recently assumed posting messages on her Caring Bridge site, thanking people for their support. She will also be having surgery this week to repair the skull flap that was removed to eliminate pressure on her brain.Dirks has been similarly charged in the incident.Branstrom has been arraigned. An omnibus hearing is set for Nov. 17. Dirks next appears Nov. 10 in Hubbard County District Court.