Albert Lea man accused of 130 mph car chase enters guilty plea

(ABC 6 News) – UPDATE: An Albert Lea man entered a guilty plea in Freeborn County Court after an alleged 130 mph chase early this year.

Devon McCormick Lee, 20, pleaded guilty to felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, as well as two counts of gross misdemeanor criminal vehicular operation–bodily harm.

Five other charges — two counts of criminal vehicular operation–substantial bodily harm, 4th-degree DWI, violation of Minnesota’s open bottle law, and speeding (130/65) — are to be dismissed at sentencing, according to Lee’s plea agreement.

Lee’s plea agreement states that he’ll pay restitution and receive a stay of imposition at his sentencing, scheduled for Oct. 5.

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(ABC 6 News) – A 20-year-old man from Albert Lea faces eight charges after allegedly leading the Minnesota State Patrol on a two-minute high-speed chase before crashing into a ditch off I-90 on Feb. 7, 2023.

Devon McCormick Lee is scheduled to stand trial on the following charges July 10 in Mower County Court: two counts of felony criminal vehicular operation causing bodily harm, two counts of gross misdemeanor criminal vehicular operation causing bodily harm, one count of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, one count of 4th-degree DWI, one count of possession of an open bottle in a motor vehicle, and one charge of speeding in excess of 100 mph.

According to court documents, a Minnesota State Patrol trooper allegedly saw Lee’s vehicle traveling at 111 mph on I-90 just after midnight Feb. 7.

The trooper allegedly caught up to the vehicle near Oakland Avenue in the city of Austin, and saw the vehicle reach a speed of 123 mph to overtake a car in the right lane.

According to court documents, the trooper activated his lights and siren, but the car accelerated to 130 mph and continued down I-90 before failing to “negotiate a curve” near 6th Street NE.

According to court documents, “The rear end of the vehicle slid out to the left, the driver overcorrected, crossed both lanes of travel and collided with the cement Jersey barrier with its front end. The suspect vehicle slid backwards into the eastbound ditch. Hall observed flames from the front of the vehicle as it slid into the ditch. … The pursuit lasted approximately two minutes and covered approximately three miles.”

The trooper allegedly made contact with a juvenile passenger exiting the vehicle, who raised one hand when asked, but stated his left arm was broken and he could not raise it.

The juvenile male was taken to Mayo Clinic Health Service in Austin to be checked for a possible broken arm, lump on his head, and visible broken teeth.

An adult male in the vehicle was removed by first responders.

Lee, identified as the alleged driver, was taken into custody at the scene and according to court documents, failed five field sobriety tests administered later.

Neither passenger was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, according to court documents.

The Minnesota State Patrol allegedly located two open bottles of liquor in the car, as well as two unopened bottles and a marijuana pipe.