A Minnesota farmer is facing criminal charges after some of his cows got loose and contributed to three separate car crashes on U.S. Highway 14.
According to the criminal complaint, Aaron Duane Lambrecht was formally charged with two counts of public nuisance and three counts of animal cruelty in connection with the incident last July. Police say that they were alerted to the presence of cows on the highway around 4:15 a.m. on July 24, 2024. Police ended up responding to three car crashes near mile marker 116.
- The first driver saw a cow in the left lane of traffic before striking a cow in the right lane. This driver suffered a compressed back fracture and a broken leg after the vehicle rolled during the wreck.
- A second driver heading in the same direction struck a black cow standing in the highway, which sent the vehicle careening into a ditch. The second driver did not suffer any injuries during the crash.
- A third driver struck a cow and ended up crashing into a ditch. The driver suffered a few minor cuts and ended up with glass dust in her eyes. She was treated for her injuries at a local hospital.
All three cows that were struck died as a result of their injuries.
Series Of Animal Problems
It may seem like the incident was an unforeseen accident, but police have had containment issues with Lambrecht’s animals in the past. Law enforcement learned that the Nicollet County Sheriff’s Office has 22 prior contacts with Lambrecht regarding his animals getting out of enclosures dating back to 2021. He was previously issued citations in 2024 for public nuisance after his cattle were discovered out of their enclosure. Upon arriving on scene, Lambrecht admitted that his cows must have pushed their way out of their enclosure.
If convicted of the recent charges, Lambrecht could be jailed for just over a year and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine.
It’s clear that the pattern of behavior led to the filing of criminal charges, and Lambrecht should be feeling thankful that the crashes weren’t worse, as he could have ended up facing much more severe charges.
While the headline is a bit funny, there is plenty to learn from the situation about criminal culpability, even if you don’t intend to cause harm to anyone. You have a duty to help keep others safe, and if you actions or inaction leads to their injury, you can be criminally charged.
If your cows get loose and you need effective legal counsel, or you need a lawyer for a more common criminal matter, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
