An East Grand Forks man was asleep at the wheel when he struck and killed a woman in Nelson County in October, prosecutors say.
Malik Sabo Yahaya, 46, faces one count of negligent homicide, a Class C felony.
Investigators believe Yahaya was asleep when his vehicle crossed the median of U.S. Highway 2 on Oct. 2 and struck and killed 71-year-old Sharon Esch of West Fargo.
Yahaya is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Northeast Central District Court in Grand Forks Friday.
According to an affidavit filed in Nelson County on Nov. 22, a Highway Patrol investigation found Yahaya was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the crash, nor was he using his cell phone.
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“It is believed Yahaya fell asleep while driving however he is adamant he did not,” the affidavit states.
According to the accident report, Yahaya was traveling west in his 1996 Plymouth Voyager near Petersburg, N.D., on Highway 2 when he failed to follow a right-hand curve, vaulted the median and collided head on with Esch, who was driving a 2012 Honda Civic.
Esch was pronounced dead at the scene. Yahaya was sent to Altru Hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
