Prosecutor won’t seek Minn. man’s retrial in fatal Toyota crash, seeks end to ’sad situation’

Prosecutor won’t re-try Minn. man in Toyota crash

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Minnesota prosecutor says she won’t seek another trial for a man sentenced to eight years in prison for a Toyota crash that killed three people.

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner (GAIRT’-ner) said Thursday she thinks it’s time to bring a “very sad situation” to an end.

Gaertner spoke shortly after a judge ordered a new trial for Koua Fong Lee. The 32-year-old St. Paul man was convicted of criminal vehicular homicide in a 2006 crash involving his 1996 Toyota Camry.

Lee insisted at trial that he had been trying to brake before the crash. Toyota’s problems with unintended acceleration in newer models led to his case getting reopened.

Lee was released from prison early Thursday evening.