Preston, MN (KROC-AM News) - A former Stewartville woman charged in a deadly crash that killed two children in an Amish buggy near Stewartville has agreed to a plea deal.Thirty-seven-year-old Samantha Petersen, now of Wabasha, faces 17 criminal charges connected to the September 2023 crash on Fillmore County Road 1. The charges allege she was under the influence when the SUV she was driving struck the buggy, which was transporting four children to school.

The crash claimed the lives of 7-year-old Wilma and 11-year-old Irma Miller. Two of their siblings suffered serious injuries but survived.

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Petersen was charged with six counts of criminal vehicular homicide, six counts of criminal vehicular operation, gross misdemeanor DWI, and multiple misdemeanor traffic offenses.

According to a plea petition filed Wednesday in Fillmore County Court, Petersen will plead guilty to one count of criminal vehicular homicide and one count of criminal vehicular operation. In exchange, the remaining charges will be dismissed.

The court filing states that Petersen admitted she was under the influence of methamphetamine when the crash occurred.

The plea agreement is scheduled to be finalized at a hearing on July 11. It allows Petersen to argue for a downward departure from state sentencing guidelines, which call for one year in jail with a stayed 57-month prison term. If the court denies the request, she will serve a 48-month prison sentence.

Petersen’s twin sister, 37-year-old Sarah Petersen, was sentenced in March to 90 days in jail, four years of probation, and 120 days of electronic home monitoring. She also received a stayed 19-month prison sentence.

READ MORE: Twin Sister Pleads Guilty in Deadly Minnesota Buggy Crash That Killed 2 Children

Sarah Petersen was accused of lying to investigators to protect her sister. She pleaded guilty to two counts of felony criminal vehicular operation. She was originally charged with 16 felonies, including aiding and abetting criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation.

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