Champlin, Minnesota — A tragic crash in Champlin, Minnesota, has left a family grieving and a community shaken after a teenage driver allegedly caused a fatal accident while looking at his phone. Authorities say the December 2025 incident resulted in the death of a 70-year-old grandmother and serious injuries to a pregnant woman, who required an emergency C-section.
According to police, the crash happened in the afternoon near the victim’s home. Linda Davis, 70, was in her Jeep preparing to make a turn when a BMW driven by a 17-year-old approached from behind at a high speed. Investigators say the vehicle did not slow down before slamming into her car.
The force of the collision pushed Davis’ Jeep into oncoming traffic, where it was struck by a Ford SUV driven by a pregnant woman. The impact led to a chain-reaction crash involving three vehicles, leaving multiple people injured.
Emergency responders arrived quickly, but Davis was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family later shared that she had been just outside her home when the crash occurred, making the loss even more devastating.
The pregnant driver was rushed to the hospital, where doctors performed an emergency C-section to save her baby. Both mother and child survived, though the woman sustained significant injuries and continues to recover.
Investigators later revealed that the teen driver had been actively using his phone in the minutes leading up to the crash. A review of his device showed continuous app activity from approximately 3:20 p.m. until the time of the collision around 3:28 p.m.
Initially, the teen reportedly told authorities that his brakes were slow, suggesting that as the reason he could not stop in time. However, evidence from the phone examination contradicted that claim, pointing instead to distraction as a key factor.
Police also noted that after the crash, the teen allegedly called his mother before dialing 911.
Linda Davis’ family described her as the “heartbeat” of their home — a devoted wife, loving mother, and caring grandmother. She had recently celebrated her 70th birthday just weeks before the tragedy. Loved ones say her sudden passing has left a deep void in their lives and community.
Due to his age at the time of the incident, the driver has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide and is expected to be prosecuted in juvenile court. Authorities confirmed that, although he is now 18, the case will proceed based on his age during the crash.
Officials say the investigation remains ongoing as they continue to review evidence and determine the full circumstances surrounding the crash.
