Posted: 8/20/03

Domestic incident on US-8 leaves Shafer man critical

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Authorities are continuing the investigation into a Sunday morning incident on US-8 near Forest Lake that left a Shafer man on life support.

Mark Allen Cole, 47, was in critical condition with head injuries at North Memorial Medical Center, Robbinsdale, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

The incident was reported at 4:54 a.m. Sunday in the 7000 block of US-8 (Lake Drive), one-half mile east of Greenway Ave. in Wyoming Township.

Authorities said Cole was a passenger in a car driven by his wife. According to the State Patrol, Cole was out of the car and on the shoulder of US-8 when he was hurt.

As of noon Monday, State Patrol investigators said it was undetermined if Cole was struck by a vehicle or was injured in some other fashion.

Investigators from the State Patrol continued to talk to witnesses living near the scene of the accident while the examination of physical evidence also continued.

The driver of the vehicle, 41-year-old Kristin A. Cole, of Shafer, remained in custody at the Chisago County Jail, Center City, according to the Chisago County Sheriffís Office.

She was arrested by the State Patrol and booked for probable cause of criminal vehicular operation, the sheriffís office said.

On Tuesday, Cole was charged with one count each of criminal vehicular operation resulting in great bodily harm and criminal vehicular operation substantial bodiy harm.

Both charges are felonies. She made her first court appearance on Tuesday.

Police said Monday they did not know what led to the domestic incident.

According to the State Patrol, Mark Cole had exited the vehicle and was walking along side and in front of the car prior to being injured.

He was airlifted by helicopter from the scene to the hospital in Robbinsdale.

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