Driver who severely injured construction worker in 2017 pleads guilty

(FOX 9) - New information was revealed Wednesday in the case of the mother and a Minnesota construction flagger who was severely injured by a distracted driver.

The driver admitted to looking at a Snapchat notification on her phone at the scene of the crash back in July 2017.  

Wednesday morning, 20-year-old Jordan Lynn Paulus pled guilty to "consciously disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk," according to court documents, which is a gross misdemeanor, according to East Bethel City Attorney Joe Van Thomme. 

The crash had wife and mother of six Laura Berg fighting for her life and in a coma for months.To this day, Berg continues to recover from the injuries she sustained in the crash.

The crash happened in a marked East Bethel construction zone.

The charge carries a maximum one year in jail and a $3,000 fine. The East Bethel prosecutor told FOX 9 that Paulus was sentenced to 30 days, 15 of which she'll spend in jail and the remaining she'll spend on house arrest. She'll also pay nearly $1,000 in restitution and fines.

"As soon as she apologized she was crying, and I felt really bad for her," Berg said. "I wanted to get up and hug and say, ‘Hey, I don't hate you, I forgive you.'"

Berg says it feels good this ordeal is coming to a close and she can move forward.

She continues to undergo procedures and intensive physical therapy for her injuries.

Meanwhile, Paulus' license will also be suspended for 90 days. She'll remain on probation for two years and she'll be required to talk to driver's education students to warn them about the dangers of distracted driving.

Berg also told FOX 9 that even though she'll never be able to work again, as soon as she's better, she will fight for stronger laws to protect Minnesota construction workers.