Chanhassen Woman Charged After Alleged Drunk Driving Crash Seriously Injures Two at Highway 5 Intersection
Published: July 14th, 2026
CHANHASSEN: A Chanhassen woman is facing felony criminal vehicular operation charges after authorities allege she drove under the influence of alcohol and caused a crash that seriously injured two people at a Chanhassen intersection.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Carver County, Betty Somchai Khakam, 43, of Chanhassen, is charged with two counts of felony criminal vehicular operation resulting in substantial bodily harm while under the influence of alcohol and one count of gross misdemeanor driving while impaired (DWI).
According to the complaint, at approximately 7:30 p.m. on July 11, 2026, a Minnesota State Patrol trooper responded to a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of Highway 5 and Powers Boulevard in Chanhassen.
The complaint states Khakam, who was identified as the driver of one of the vehicles, told the responding trooper she proceeded through the intersection because she believed she could make it through a yellow traffic signal. The trooper reported smelling the odor of alcohol coming from Khakam and noted she provided vague answers about her direction of travel. She later admitted to having consumed two alcoholic drinks earlier, according to the complaint.
Authorities allege Khakam agreed to perform field sobriety testing. The complaint states her performance on the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test indicated impairment. During the testing, she reportedly grabbed a squad vehicle for balance and became extremely emotional, prompting the trooper to discontinue additional field sobriety tests.
According to the complaint, Khakam initially provided a weak preliminary breath test (PBT) sample that registered 0.059, followed by a stronger sample that produced a result of 0.186. She was arrested and transported to Ridgeview's 212 Medical Center, where investigators obtained a search warrant for a blood or urine sample. The complaint states a blood sample was collected and submitted to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for analysis.
Investigators later interviewed the occupants of the other vehicle, who told authorities they were traveling eastbound on Highway 5 with a green light when Khakam's vehicle entered the intersection.
According to the complaint, one victim suffered a fractured sternum, bruised lung, and multiple fractured ribs. A second victim sustained a cracked sternum, nine fractured ribs, a lacerated spleen, and a compression fracture near the bottom of the spine. Prosecutors allege those injuries constitute substantial bodily harm.
The complaint also alleges Khakam has a prior DWI conviction from May 7, 2024, which serves as the aggravating factor supporting the gross misdemeanor DWI charge.
The allegations against Khakam remain accusations. She is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.