2 October 2024
CARLTON — An Iron Range man who allegedly had multiple drugs in his system and was playing air guitar when he struck and killed a pedestrian in Moose Lake in March has pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide.
Brent James Keranen, 22, of Pengilly, entered a guilty plea Wednesday in State District Court.
The plea petition does not list a sentence agreement, instead stating Keranen may request the judge give a sentence that is lighter than the guideline that will be determined depending on Keranen’s criminal history. A hearing to decide the sentence is scheduled for Dec. 2.
Keranen fatally struck Justin McNeil, 61, of Moose Lake, on Minnesota Highway 73 the afternoon of March 21. Tire tracks showed Keranen veered onto the shoulder where McNeil was walking, according to the criminal complaint.
About an hour earlier, Keranen had been cited after hitting a Minnesota State Patrol squad car as he left the Twin Cities. A breath test showed Keranen had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.066, just under the legal limit, the charges said.
After the second crash, Keranen reportedly told authorities he had the cruise control set to 52 in a 40 mph zone, a good song came on the radio and he was playing “air guitar” when he “struck someone.”
A blood test after the second crash revealed Keranen had methamphetamine, cocaine and THC in his system, as well as alcohol at a concentration of 0.054.
Three additional felony counts of vehicular homicide under the influence were filed against Keranen after the blood test came back from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, according to court records. He pleaded guilty to one of the new counts and the other three counts will be dismissed.
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