New evidence presented in case of man who killed 18-year-old woman while drunk driving

(ABC 6 News) – A Rochester man who pleaded guilty to two charges of criminal vehicular homicide, and one charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol, in a crash that killed an 18-year-old woman in February 2021 was back in Olmsted County court Wednesday.

On Feb. 23, 2021, Haukom, 35, crashed into a car being driven by 18-year-old Erika Cruz who later died from her injuries.

Wednesday in court, the state presented evidence arguing he should receive a harsher penalty for "aggravating factors" like his blood alcohol level, which was 0.25, and the speed he was driving before the crash, which was 65 mph in a 30 mph zone.

A witness Wednesday described the crash, saying Haukom’s car was moving "like a bullet."

One piece of evidence presented Wednesday was bodycam video of Haukom’s interview with police the day after the crash. In the video, when an officer tells Haukom that Cruz had died, Haukom briefly breaks down in tears, then asks what his mandatory minimum sentence would be.

Lawyers in the case will submit written arguments on Haukom’s sentence later this month.

Haukom is charged with criminal vehicular homicide and changed his plea to guilty in December.

His sentencing date has not yet been set.