By Zech Sindt
On December 30, 2024, Brittany Nicole Edgar, a 33-year-old woman from Kasson who pleaded guilty to fleeing the scene of an accident, was sentenced. The Fillmore County judge imposed a 13-month prison sentence, but it was stayed for three years, meaning Edgar will avoid serving most of her time behind bars if she adheres to the terms of her probation.
On February 16, 2024, shortly before 10 p.m., a Fillmore County Sheriff Deputy was sitting on County Road 1, north of Spring Valley, conducting routine speed enforcement. According to the complaint, he noticed an Amish buggy with flashing lights.
A few minutes later, that same deputy received a dispatch call about a vehicle versus horse-and-buggy collision with injuries near 29893 County Road 1. When he arrived at the scene, the deputy saw an SUV parked on the east shoulder of the road, while a buggy was overturned in the west ditch.
Meanwhile, another deputy, also en route to the crash, noticed a white Pontiac Grand Prix heading southbound with extensive front-end damage, including a broken headlight and no functioning tail lights. He conducted a traffic stop and talked to the driver, who he identified as Brittany Nicole Edgar. Edgar claimed she had hit a deer about two hours prior. The deputy issued Edgar a verbal warning for her malfunctioning lights and continued towards the crash site.
At the scene, the first deputy pieced together the events leading up to the collision. He spoke with a passerby who had stopped to help. That passerby told the deputy how his passenger had seen children waving for help from what appeared to be a crash involving a horse. They went back to assist, and found the family in trouble. Another passenger in the SUV spoke with the buggy’s driver, who only recalled that a car had hit them and driven away. The deputy discovered a white bumper near the wreckage, and relayed that information to dispatch. This prompted the second deputy to connect his earlier encounter with Edgar to the crash.
The driver of the buggy, referred to in court documents as “Father,” later told a deputy that he had been driving southbound on County Road 1 and, upon noticing two vehicles approaching from behind, pulled onto the shoulder to allow them to pass. The first vehicle passed without incident, but the second, driven by Edgar, collided with the buggy just past a bridge, sending the family tumbling into the ditch.
Spring Valley Ambulance transported the injured to St. Marys Hospital. “Father” and “Mother,” along with four of their children, were taken to the hospital for treatment. The father suffered bumps and bruises, the mother had facial scratches, and the seven children, ranging in age from one to 12, sustained concussions, broken bones, and lacerations. The youngest child suffered a skull fracture and a swollen left eye, injuries that required extensive medical care.
As the investigation progressed, the sergeant involved in the investigation located Edgar’s damaged Grand Prix at her home in Spring Valley. When confronted, Edgar initially stuck to her story about hitting a deer, but eventually she confessed to her involvement in the crash. A search warrant was obtained for her vehicle and cell phone. Her phone showed that she made a series of calls and messages shortly after the accident. Investigators also discovered that Edgar’s car insurance had expired in 2022, leaving her with no coverage at the time of the crash.
The amount of evidence against Edgar was substantial. She faced six charges, including the most serious count of felony Criminal Vehicular Operation – Substantial Bodily Harm – Driver Who Causes Collision Leaves Scene. In a plea agreement, Edgar pleaded guilty to the felony count, while the remaining charges were dismissed.
In addition to the stayed 13-month prison sentence, Edgar must serve 30 days in the Fillmore County Jail, starting January 31, 2025. She will also be on probation for three years, with numerous conditions attached to her probation. These conditions include mandatory chemical dependency evaluation and treatment, cognitive skills training, a mental health assessment, and random drug and alcohol testing. She is also prohibited from possessing firearms or entering establishments that serve alcohol.
Edgar also faces some financial consequences. She was ordered to pay $20,600 in restitution to the family to help cover their medical expenses and other damages. This is in addition to the fines and fees totaling $20,815.
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