Christopher James Otte, a 32-year-old from Avon, Minnesota, faces felony charges after admitting fault in a head-on DUI crash that killed a pregnant woman’s unborn child and left her critically injured. The incident occurred on February 13, 2026, in St. Cloud, highlighting the severe consequences of drunk driving.
Crash Circumstances
Otte’s SUV sped through a St. Cloud neighborhood, blew a stop sign captured on surveillance, and veered into oncoming traffic, colliding with 34-year-old Nastaho Amare’s minivan around 1 p.m. Witnesses confirmed his high speed; the victim’s vehicle caught fire during rescue, trapping her against the dashboard before she was hospitalized.
Otte’s Admission and Impairment
At the scene, Otte appeared unsteady with slurred speech, watery eyes, and a preliminary breath test showing 0.201 BAC—over twice Minnesota’s legal limit. A receipt indicated four whiskey drinks purchased less than two hours prior at a sports bar; he admitted drinking (claiming only two) and twice said, “It was my fault,” recalling hitting her “straight on.”
Victim’s Condition and Charges
Amare, late in pregnancy, lost her baby and remains in critical condition. Otte, previously convicted of DWI in 2019, faces two counts of criminal vehicular operation: one for the unborn child’s death and one for great bodily harm, both under the influence. He’s held without bond in Stearns County Jail, with a court date of March 16.
