Trucker who struck trooper sentenced in Minnesota

The Associated Press

1/18/2008

ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The trucker who sideswiped a state trooper making a traffic stop along Interstate 94 will have to serve a nine-month-jail sentence.

Donald Kerkau of St. Louis, Mich., pleaded guilty in November to criminal vehicular injury and driving under the influence.

The 46-year-old man was sentenced Thursday in Stearns County District Court.

The county attorney says Kerkau was sentenced to the same amount of time Trooper Gregg Gerhartz was out of work, plus 90 days.

Prosecutors say Kerkau was driving a tractor-trailer on June 5 when it struck Gerhartz while he was making a traffic stop in Sauke Centre. Gerhartz broke his leg.

Tests showed Kerkau had marijuana and cocaine in his system.

The criminal complaint says Kerkau admitted he had dozed off and didn't see the squad car or its emergency lights until it was too late.