Caledonia Argus

Driver faces chargesin fatal accident

Posted: 4/30/02

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

Charges were filed in Houston County District Court Monday, April 29, charging Joseph Steven Heaney, 23, of Caledonia, with causing the death of Jesse M. Worsley, 20, of Caledonia. The accident occurred November 18, 2001.

The complaint charges Heaney with criminal vehicular operation resulting in death; operating a vehicle in a grossly negligent manner; driving under the influence of alcohol and having a blood alcohol concentration over .10 as measured within two hours of the accident.

He faces additional charges of causing substantial bodily harm to another occupant, Paul Hughes, of Brownsville.

The complaint states that at 1:00 a.m. on the 18th, the occupants of Heaneyís vehicle, Worsley, Hughes and Brandon Ranzenberger of Caledonia, went to a rock quarry near Freeburg with five other individuals who were in another vehicle.

According to the complaint, witnesses say that all were drinking alcohol at the quarry.

The other vehicle was the first to leave the quarry, traveling on County Hwy. 249 toward Caledonia.

The complaint alleges that at about 5 a.m., shortly after leaving Freeburg, Heaney passed the other vehicle at a high rate of speed, then lost control as he encountered a sharp curve.

Witnesses say that Heaneyís truck skidded, began to fishtail, and then rolled over.

All of the occupants of the vehicle, except for Heaney, were ejected.

A reconstruction of the scene by the Minnesota State Patrol indicated that the Heaney vehicle was traveling a minimum of 75 miles per hour.

Heaney will appear in court on Monday, May 20 at 11:00 a.m.

A 2000 graduate of Caledonia High School, Worsley was a sophomore at the University of South Dakota at the time of his death.

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