A North Branch man who allegedly crashed his car into another, leaving a 6-year-old girl with life-threatening injuries, claimed at the scene that a woman was driving the car at the time of the crash, according to a criminal complaint.

Joe David Campbell, 39, was charged Tuesday in Chisago County with four counts of criminal vehicular operation, great bodily harm while under the influence.

Joe David Campbell (Courtesy of the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office)

Chisago County deputies responded to the crash near the intersection of Stacy Trail and Falcon Avenue North, on the west side of Kwik Trip, Saturday at 10:34 a.m.

Deputies saw a Kia sedan and a Volkswagen sedan with significant collision damage in the middle of the roadway, according to the criminal complaint. Multiple people were also at the scene, attempting to provide care to those injured inside the Volkswagen.

A man was in the Volkswagen driver’s seat and a woman in the front passenger’s seat. A 6-year-old and 17-year-old were in the back seats. The driver told deputies that as he exited Kwik Trip to turn left, the Kia traveling at a high rate of speed and fishtailing struck his vehicle, according to the complaint.

Both cars sustained heavy damage, and airbags went off according to the complaint. The Kia’s front passenger seat belt was in the resting position, revealing that it was not being used at the time of the crash.

Kwik Trip video footage of the crash shows Campbell exiting the Kia’s front passenger door immediately after the crash. Campbell told responders and deputies a woman was driving the Kia. All evidence from the scene did not align with his claim, according to officers.

Campbell smelled of alcohol and was placed under arrest.

A helicopter transported the 6-year-old to Gillette Children’s Hospital, where she was admitted into the pediatric intensive care unit. The child sustained a head injury and acute respiratory failure as a result. She was intubated at the hospital and is receiving continued treatment, according to prosecutors.

The 17-year-old sustained a rib fracture as a result of the crash. The driver and passenger sustained minor injuries.

Medical staff at M Health Fairview Hospital took a blood sample from Campbell at 12:52 p.m. Saturday. The sample will be submitted to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for toxicology, according to the complaint.

At the hospital, deputies said Campbell’s behavior fluctuated dramatically. At times he would would yell and act extremely hostile with hospital staff, then later would calm down and be apologetic. Campbell also had a difficult time staying awake.

Campbell is currently in custody in Chisago County.

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