GRAND RAPIDS — A Cohasset man was charged with third-degree murder Tuesday, Aug. 25, in a fatal head-on crash late Saturday afternoon in Grand Rapids.
Jack Leroy Daniel Drumbeater, 41, was initially reported as a passenger in the crash, which resulted in the death of Janelle Swenson, 42, of Cohasset. Another defendant was in the driver’s seat at the time of the crash, according to court documents. That defendant was still hospitalized as of Tuesday and will be taken to the Itasca County Jail once released.
KAXE generally does not name defendants until they are charged.
Police were called to the crash near the intersection of Highway 2 and 17th Avenue Northwest around 4:30 p.m.
According to court documents, Drumbeater allegedly drove up to the nearby Lucky Seven gas station before going inside. Witness statements said the other defendant then moved to the driver's seat. After Drumbeater returned from the gas station, the defendant began driving the truck away without Drumbeater.
Drumbeater jumped into the truck bed, then allegedly broke through the back window to enter the cab of the vehicle. The crash occurred "immediately after."
In his statement to police, Drumbeater said he does not remember the crash and said he thought he was driving at the time.
Drumbeater was booked into the Itasca County Jail on Sunday, Aug 23.
He currently faces three other felonies: second-degree manslaughter, theft of a motor vehicle and a drug possession charge.
According to court documents, he was charged with third-degree murder because he did not intend to cause Swenson’s death but acted in an “eminently dangerous” manner “without regard for human life.”
Drumbeater made his first court appearance Tuesday. He is scheduled to appear again on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
