Woman Swaps With Twin Sister To Avoid Arrest In Fatal Amish Buggy Crash

Photo: William Thomas Cain (Getty Images)

A woman in rural Minnesota tried to have her twin sister take the blame for her involvement in a fatal crash with an Amish buggy carrying four children earlier this year. The crash killed two of the children and sent the other two to the hospital. Court documents revealed that the driver of the silver 2005 Toyota 4Runner that slammed into the buggy likely swapped places with her twin before law enforcement arrived.

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The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office had identified the SUV’s driver as Sarah Beth Petersen, a 35-year-old woman. However, her twin sister Samantha Petersen was likely the one behind the wheel. Both sisters were at the crash site with two different Toyota SUVs, both registered to Samantha, when authorities arrived.

Sarah was in the silver 4Runner involved in the incident and spoke with the police. She was also subjected to a field sobriety test. However, evidence gathered afterward contradicts what Sarah told the police, KTTC reports:

Documents show Samantha Petersen left work at the Crossroads Hy-Vee in Rochester shortly before 8 a.m. on the day of the crash and was seen getting into the silver SUV and leaving. The affidavit reveals this information was received from Hy-Vee staff, where she and her sister Sarah both worked. It also accuses Petersen of admitting to using methamphetamines and being high at the time of the collision.

Police dashcam footage appears to show the twins finishing switching clothes to make it appear that Sarah was the one who left the Hy-Vee. Despite the poorly-planned ruse, phone records showed that a number belonging to Samantha called 911 to report the crash. The caller also admitted that they hit the buggy.

The sheriff’s office were prompted to further investigate who was really the driver when deputies listened back to audio recorded inside a police cruiser when Sarah was being held in the back. While unattended, Samantha approached the passenger window to talk with Sarah about how the deputies couldn’t tell them apart.

It’s tragic that two children were killed by a reckless driver, but it’s somehow made even worse that the driver was willing to let their own sister take the punishment for it.