Rochester Woman Accused of Running Over Woman at Local Taco Bell

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester woman was arraigned today in Olmsted County Court on charges alleging she drove away after running over a woman in the parking lot of a Rochester restaurant.

According to the criminal complaint, 40-year-old Lindsay Jo Hawkinson was allegedly driving her boyfriend's car with a revoked driver's license and her 11-year-old daughter in the vehicle when she was involved in a confrontation with an acquaintance outside the Taco Bell in the 2200 block of 3rd Avenue Southeast on May 5th. The other woman told Rochester police that Hawkinson grabbed her hair and pulled her partially into the vehicle before driving away.

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The court document alleges she accelerated for approximately 50 feet before the victim was able to break free. She told police she felt a tire rollover her back and her right ankle. The responding officers found her in apparent distress with obvious visible injuries. The complaint says abrasions and road rash could be seen on her right foot, right knee, and both arms on her right foot. The police report on the incident also noted her clothing appeared to be torn and her eyeglasses were broken.

The complaint also says the victim later went to a healthcare provider and was treated for fractured ribs, torn ligaments in her right ankle, and multiple areas of bone bruising and contusions.

The charging document says investigators later located and spoke with Hawkinson, who admitted being at the Taco Bell and being the driver in the altercation, although she disputed the series of events and denied assaulting the victim. It also states that Hawkinson also admitted to officers that she drove out of the parking lot after the incident even though her daughter "yelled" that the victim was on the ground.

Hawkinson faces two felony counts of criminal vehicular operation and a misdemeanor citation for driving after revocation. The felony charges allege she caused substantial bodily harm and left the scene of the incident.

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