ST PAUL, Minn. — A man prosecutors call a "career criminal" is now charged with criminal vehicular homicide after he allegedly fled police and crashed into another vehicle, killing the driver.
The criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County Monday spells out the allegations against 37-year-old Nicholas John Price, who is charged with additional felonies including domestic assault and fleeing police.
Court documents say the incident began on Friday, Dec. 13 when Price's girlfriend called 911 and reported that he had grabbed her by the face, slammed her into a wall and threatened to set her on fire at a location in Roseville.
At around 10:30 p.m. Roseville police spotted a Chevy Tahoe registered to Price headed east on County Road BW and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver fled. Police attempted a PIT maneuver but Price reportedly drove through it and continued to elude law enforcement.
Ramsey County deputies joined in the pursuit. Prosecutors say Price drove through Little Canada and into Maplewood, where he crashed into a 2006 Toyota Corolla near the intersection of Edgerton Street and Bellwood Avenue.
Both the Tahoe and Corolla suffered heavy front-end damage in the crash. Officers found the driver of the Toyota was trapped inside the driver's compartment, and he told them he couldn't breathe. The man eventually stopped communicating and later died at a local hospital.
Price was transported to the hospital with a broken leg.
The complaint says an investigator who the defendant knew from previous encounters went to question him in the hospital. Price reportedly said his girlfriend had accused him of cheating, they had broken up and she was in the process of moving out of his residence when the alleged assault occurred. He denied the domestic assault accusations but allegedly admitted fleeing police.
"I don't know why I took off," he allegedly said. "It was my instinct. It was the dumbest thing to do... I hope to God the people I hit are okay or not dead."
Price allegedly told the investigator he was doing 80-90 mph on Edgerton before the crash, and didn't recall seeing the other vehicle. Police say the defendant said he was going to get out and run, but his injury - a broken leg - prevented his escape. He reportedly admitted to using marijuana and OxyContin the day of the fatal crash.
The investigator told prosecutors Price became emotional when told the other driver died, and then asked if he would be released in time to spend Christmas with his children.
Court documents say Price currently faces trial on three separate felonies in Ramsey County for theft, stalking and assault, and motor vehicle theft. Prosecutors say he has failed to appear and repeatedly violates terms of conditional release on those charges, alleging that he keeps getting released due to claims that he is participating in treatment.
