Posted: 4/12/05
Man killed in accident near Caledonia
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Matthew James Atkinson, 20, of Backus, Minnesota, was killed in a one-car accident in Caledonia Township on April 6. Backus is north of Brainerd.
The tragedy happened at approximately 9:41 p.m. that Wednesday night on Green Acres Road, which is just south of the city limits. The 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix hit a tree.
Two others in the car, driver James Schutte, 23, of Caledonia, and Kelly Jo Shefelbine, 34, of Rochester were transported by Caledonia Ambulance to Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
The Houston County coroner pronounced Atkinson dead at the scene.
Alcohol was involved in the accident, according to the Minnesota State Patrol, which is in charge of the investigation. Houston County Attorney Rick Jackson said on April 8 that the investigation would take a ìsignificant amount of timeî to complete because of the time required in accident reconstruction. Charges may be filed after the investigation is complete. None had been filed as of April 11.
Schutte was booked into the Houston County Jail on April 8 on felony probation violation. He appeared in Third District Court on this charge on April 11.
Here are details of the accident from the Houston County Sheriffís Department:
Prior to the accident at approximately 9:25 p.m., the Houston County Sheriffs Office received a citizenís report that a vehicle matching the description of the one involved in the accident was driving erratically around the city of Caledonia.
Officers also received information that the subject driving the vehicle was allegedly intoxicated and had warrants for his arrest.
Just prior to the accident a deputy met this vehicle speeding on Old Highway Drive in the city limits of Caledonia. The deputy attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle in question sped away from the scene and was last spotted turning on Green Acres Road.
The next contact the deputy had with the vehicle was that it had been involved in an accident. Responding to the scene of the accident was the Houston County Sheriffís Office, Caledonia Police Department, Caledonia Fire and Rescue, Caledonia Ambulance and the Minnesota State Highway Patrol. Jaws of Life were used to extricate the victims, none of whom were wearing a seatbelt.
Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475
E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com