Impaired semi driver causes property damage north of Milaca
Posted 2/6/03

A Montana truck driver caused quite a stir and a lot of damage northeast of Milaca on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

The driver of the semi, James Arthur Craft, 31, of Wolf Pointe, Mont., was on 105th Avenue (east of Mille Lacs Power Sports and Corrow Carpets about two miles north of Milaca) when he went into a ditch and a field owned by Dennis and Linda Nelson.

Linda first saw the truck going through the field across from their home and then down into the ditch.

According to Dennis, Craft managed to turn the semi around and then headed back toward Highway 169.

It was between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. when Nelson called the sheriffís office and made a driving complaint.

Craft then ended up in Kevin and Amy Paxtonís field on 180th Street where he jack-knifed the truck.

According to Amy, Craft came across their field, which includes sister-in-law Janine Rahmís new home, and ran over about 22 red and white pine trees, which were anywhere from five to 10 feet in height.

He also took down roughly 25-30 poplar trees they had planted, which were approximately 10-12 feet tall.

After roughly 45 minutes, with the rear of the truck in the ditch, Craft managed to get the vehicle out once again.

Amy said Craft then went back onto 180th.

"Thank goodness he didnít hit my sister-in-lawís new house," Amy said.

He drove back past the Nelson home, but this time Dennis Nelson followed the truckís tracks.

However, before Nelson caught up to him, Craft was off doing more damage at Jim Starkís residence, which is further north on 105th Avenue.

Around 4:45 p.m. the electricity went out in Jim Starkís barn. Stark went outside to investigate and saw a semi and trailer coming toward his house.

The truck had hit two electrical poles and then slammed into the east side of the deck that wraps around Starkís home on 105th Avenue.

"I had my mouth open," Stark said when the incident occurred.

The semi was stopped once again.

Stark described Craft as being, "pretty well out of it" and said Craft told him the police were after him.

Stark couldnít get into his homeís main entrance because the semi was blocking it. He was finally able to get inside to call the police, but Craft took off again.

Roughly 25-30 feet of Starkís deck was damaged.

When Nelson eventually caught up to Craft, the truck was in the middle of the road on 105th Avenue, north of County Road 16.

It seems that hitting over 40 trees, two electrical poles, and a house did enough damage to the truck to finally stop Craft.

Nelson saw Craft walking, but said he didnít want to get too close as he wasnít sure about the man.

"You got a problem?" Nelson shouted to him.

Nelson said the man replied, "Yeah, I must be having a bad day."

Nelson then left the man and called the sheriffís department again.

Craft was arrested by deputy Gregg Weller at 4:52 p.m.

According to Mille Lacs County Undersheriff Alan Marxhausen, a shift change caused the delay in getting an officer to the scene and the county is dealing with the miscommunication internally.

No one was injured during the incident.

"Thatís the thing weíre thankful for," said Amy.

Craft was charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

At his arraignment on Thursday, Jan. 30, Craft pled guilty and admitted to using methamphetamines (meth).

He will spend 30 days in Mille Lacs County Jail, pay a $500 fine, plus law library fees, and other surcharges and face probation from zero to two years.

Craft was also ordered by District Court Judge Steven Ruble to pay out of pocket restitution to victims and any possible civil lawsuits.

It is unclear what Craft was doing in the area. The trailer he was hauling contained candy, including Pearsonís Salted Nut Rolls and Mint Patties.