Proctor man sentenced for deadly 2022 crash

DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) - A 22-year-old Proctor man has been sentenced to prison and probation for a 2022 crash that killed a woman and seriously injured her young son.

Jesse James Kowalczak was sentenced Friday by Judge Nicole Hopps to 48 months in prison, stayed for five years of probation. St. Louis County Attorney Kim Maki says as part of the sentence, Kowalczak must serve 364 days in the St. Louis County Jail or Northeast Regional Corrections Center, split into five annual periods beginning on the anniversary of the crash.

Kowalczak pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide for operating a vehicle in a grossly negligent manner. A second charge of criminal vehicular operation was dismissed under a plea agreement.

Authorities said Kowalczak was driving between 72 and 89 mph in heavy fog on South Ugstad Junction Road on May 13, 2022, when his vehicle struck a car driven by Leah Sarko. The collision flipped Sarko’s vehicle, killing her and severely injuring her young son.

“Mr. Kowalczak’s grossly negligent act stole a mother and community member from us,” Maki said.

The case was investigated by the Minnesota State Patrol and prosecuted by Duluth Criminal Division Head Nate Stumme.

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