MINNEAPOLIS -- A woman drove away from a bar “heavily intoxicated” and caused a collision in southern Minnesota that killed a couple in the other vehicle, according to charges.

Shianne Lee Escobar, 28, was charged Monday in Brown County District Court with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in connection with the crash north of Hanska shortly after 12:10 a.m. Saturday.

Escobar, of Hanska, was taken from the crash scene to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Her first court appearance has yet to be scheduled. Court records do not list an attorney for Escobar.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office identified the husband and wife who died as Paul Donald Rewitzer, 73, and Paulette Margo Rewitzer, 74, who lived about 5 miles southwest of Hanska.

A cellphone alert notified emergency dispatch of a crash on County Road 13 just north of County Road 22, according to the criminal complaint. A deputy arrived and saw two heavily damaged vehicles, with the couple dead inside one of them.

Escobar, her speech slurred, told the deputy she was heading home from a bar in New Ulm at the time of the crash, the complaint continued. Asked how much she had to drink, Escobar said that was a question for her lawyer. She did not recall when she had her last drink or what time it was.

As she was being questioned, Escobar complained of various pains and fell unconscious, the charges noted.

Emergency medical personnel took her to New Ulm Medical Center. Ambulance staff “observed an overwhelming odor of alcohol coming from [Escobar],” the charges read.

A witness called the deputy and described Escobar “as being heavily intoxicated before leaving the [bar],” the complaint continued.

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