Bjarne Samuel Deschampe, 30, Grand Portage, was arrested and charged with criminal vehicular operation of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and driving under the influence of alcohol, after the car he was driving allegedly struck a pedestrian.
Cook County Law Enforcement received a call reporting a hit and run accident at 1:17 a.m. on Saturday, May 7. The caller said a car had hit a pedestrian on Casino Drive in Grand Portage and left the scene without stopping. The victim was a 27-year-old Grand Portage woman, whose injuries could have been much worse, if her boyfriend, who was walking with her, had not pulled her toward the side of the road just as she was struck. They were both thrown to the ground.
The Grand Portage Ambulance responded and a 27-year-old female victim was transported to Cook County North Shore Hospital. She suffered injuries to her back and hip.
When Sheriff Deputies arrived, the other people who had also been walking on the side of the road showed them the passenger mirror of the vehicle—it had broken off when the victim was struck. Witnesses at the scene and at the Grand Portage Lodge & Casino told deputies that they believed the vehicle belonged to Tanya Szczech, 21, Grand Portage. It was believed that Deschampe was driving.
Sheriff Deputies went to Deschampe’s house and found the car described parked there— missing its passenger mirror. Deschampe admitted he had driven the vehicle and submitted to a preliminary breath alcohol test, which registered .18. He was arrested and a blood sample was taken
Grand Portage Lodge & Casino surveillance cameras were reviewed and Deschampe and Szczech were observed leaving the casino parking area, with Deschampe entering the driver’s side of the car. Also observed from a distance on the surveillance camera was a vehicle hitting a person while driving at a fast rate of speed without slowing down or stopping.
Deschampe posted $10,000 bond on May 9 and was released from the Lake County jail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, May 17.
Szczech was charged with no proof of insurance and failure to transfer title on the vehicle involved in the accident.
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