Charges: An off-duty Washington County deputy consumed alcohol before a head-on crash in Afton

Off duty Washington County Deputy was charged with drinking alcohol while driving, which was the cause of a head-on crash in Afton on Sunday.

Campbell Johnston Blair, 58, was charged with one felony count of driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of possession of a pistol while under the influence of alcohol.

Court documents show that at 10:39 a.m. Sunday, Minnesota State Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash at Highway 95 and Scenic Lane in Afton.

At the scene, officers observed a Ford Expedition with seven people in it – two adults in the driver’s and passenger’s seats and five children aged two to nine years old.

The second vehicle involved in the incident was a Subaru Crosstrek, which was driven by Blair, who was wearing a Wahington County sheriff’s deputy’s uniform. Blair was conscious but covered in blood from her wounds.

He told the trooper that he had been ordered to return to work at Regions Hospital. A field sobriety test was not conducted as Blair was removed from the Crosstrek bike and taken to the hospital for medical treatment.

Court records show that several witnesses saw the Crosstrek crossing lane lines and driving erratically.

Troopers believe the Crosstrek was traveling north on Highway 95 at approximately 55 mph. Authorities say the Crosstrek crossed the center line and struck the Expedition head-on in the southbound lane.

It later emerged that Blair had not been called back to work and did not return to work until Sunday evening.

Blair denied drinking any alcohol but provided a PBT sample which read 0.092.

Both adults on the expedition suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and the Minnesota State Patrol added that five children suffered minor, non-life-threatening injuries.

A Washington County spokesperson provided 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS with the following statement:

“We are aware of a car crash that killed an off-duty Washington County deputy. The Minnesota State Patrol is currently investigating the incident and, pending the outcome of the investigation, we will take all appropriate actions in accordance with our policies and procedures.”