Roseau County Crash: Paul Donahue, 49, Killed in Motorcycle Collision as Rodney Werk and Shayleigh McKay Face Felony Charges
Paul Donahue died in a Roseau County motorcycle crash as Rodney Werk and Shayleigh McKay face felony charges in Minnesota investigation
A late evening crash in rural Roseau County has led to felony charges against two local drivers after the death of 49-year-old motorcyclist Paul Donahue, an incident investigators say involved alcohol, a missed emergency response, and critical decisions made in the moments after impact.
According to court records, the crash happened around 8:24 p.m. on May 7 at the intersection of County Road 124 and 420th Avenue. First responders arrived to find Donahue’s motorcycle heavily damaged and the rider unresponsive in the roadway. Despite immediate CPR efforts by emergency personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators with the Minnesota State Patrol say Donahue was traveling at approximately 60 miles per hour when his motorcycle collided with the driver’s side of a white Chevrolet pickup truck that was crossing the intersection. The force of the impact left little time for either vehicle to react, and the scene quickly became a major crash investigation.
What happened after the collision has become a key focus of the case. Witnesses reported seeing the pickup stop briefly after the crash, followed by a red car arriving moments later. The driver of the red vehicle reportedly exited, spoke with the pickup driver, and then both vehicles left the scene before emergency services were contacted. Investigators later linked the pickup to 53-year-old Rodney Werk and identified the red car as belonging to 21-year-old Shayleigh McKay.
Court filings allege Werk had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.151 and is now facing charges including criminal vehicular homicide, felony hit-and-run, and gross misdemeanor DWI. Prosecutors also noted a prior DWI conviction, which may increase the severity of the current case. Authorities say impaired driving remains a major factor in their investigation into the fatal crash.
McKay faces separate charges including felony failure to stop at a collision involving death and additional DWI-related counts. According to the complaint, she was later stopped by deputies while driving without headlights or taillights and showed signs of impairment. Her breath test allegedly registered 0.16 at the jail. Investigators say she was not initially aware of the severity of the crash, but her actions afterward are now part of the ongoing legal case.
In her statement to investigators, McKay reportedly said she stopped at the intersection, saw a damaged truck, and asked if help was needed. She claimed the driver told her no assistance or police were required, after which she left the scene. Authorities say they are reviewing all witness accounts, timing, and roadway evidence to determine the full sequence of events.
As the legal process begins, the case has drawn attention in Roseau County for its combination of impaired driving allegations and the critical minutes following a fatal collision. For Paul Donahue’s family, however, the focus remains on the loss of a loved one whose life ended on a quiet stretch of Minnesota roadway, leaving behind questions, grief, and a community now searching for answers.
