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Hopkins Today
By the People, for the People
Drunken wrong-way driver charged in fatal Eden Prairie crash
Authorities say Amanda Merriman was unlicensed due to prior DUI convictions when she allegedly caused the deadly collision.
Apr. 15, 2026 at 5:37pm
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The grim aftermath of a deadly wrong-way crash exposes the human cost of impaired driving.Hopkins TodayA 32-year-old woman has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide after allegedly driving drunk and the wrong way on a highway in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, resulting in a fatal crash that killed a 69-year-old man from the nearby city of Hopkins.
Why it matters
This tragic incident highlights the ongoing issue of impaired driving and the need for stricter enforcement and consequences to prevent such senseless loss of life on the roads. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of license revocation policies for repeat DUI offenders.
The details
According to authorities, Amanda Merriman was driving her vehicle the wrong way on Highway 212 in Eden Prairie when she collided head-on with a car driven by Bohdan Antoniuk, 69, of Hopkins. Antoniuk was killed in the crash. Merriman was allegedly intoxicated at the time and did not have a valid driver's license, having had it revoked previously due to multiple prior DUI convictions.
- The fatal crash occurred on April 15, 2026.
The players
Amanda Merriman
A 32-year-old woman charged with criminal vehicular homicide for allegedly causing a fatal wrong-way crash while driving drunk and without a valid license due to prior DUI convictions.
Bohdan Antoniuk
A 69-year-old man from Hopkins, Minnesota who was killed in the head-on collision with Merriman's vehicle.
What they’re saying
“Impaired driving continues to be a serious threat to public safety, and we will prosecute these cases to the fullest extent of the law.”
— Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman
What’s next
Merriman is being held in jail and is scheduled to appear in court next week, where prosecutors will argue against granting her bail due to the severity of the charges and her history of DUI offenses.
The takeaway
This tragic crash underscores the urgent need for stronger measures to keep repeat DUI offenders off the roads, including longer license revocation periods and more robust ignition interlock requirements, in order to prevent such senseless loss of life.
