'Drunk, unlicensed' driver who killed teen posts picture of his totaled car online with smiley face

Michael J. Vanwagner, 24, of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, caused two crashes on July 22 along Hwy. 252 in Brooklyn Park, according to the State Patrol

After fleeing the first, the 24-year-old ran into Jason McCarthy's car down the road moments later, authorities said

The 16-year-old was rushed to North Memorial Medical Center where he clung to life for days before dying on Tuesday

On the Saturday before McCarthy died, Vanwagner posted the insensitive photo of his car on his Facebook page with the caption 'That's her front end after I got done with her lol'

On Wednesday, he acknowledged posting the picture but said he didn't know he'd hit anyone

An unlicensed drunk driver who killed a 16-year-old boy in a horror crash last week posted a picture of his totaled vehicle with a smiley face on Facebook, just days after the tragic accident.

Michael J. Vanwagner, 24, of Coon Rapids, caused not one but two crashes on July 22 along Hwy. 252 in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, according to the State Patrol.



After fleeing the first, the 24-year-old ran into Jason McCarthy's car moments later, authorities said. The teen was rushed to North Memorial Medical Center where he clung to life for days before dying on Tuesday.

Bad taste: An unlicensed drunk driver who killed a 16-year-old boy in a horror crash last week posted a picture, seen above, of his totaled vehicle with a smiley face on Facebook, just days after the tragic accident

On the Saturday before McCarthy died, Vanwagner posted the insensitive photo of his car on his Facebook page with the caption 'That's her front end after I got done with her lol.'



Under a second photo, he commented: 'I'm all good slept a day in the hospital then came home and did yard work lol.'

On Wednesday, he acknowledged posting the picture but said he didn't even know he hit somebody.



'I just thought I hit something,' he told the Star Tribun e .



He said he had learned about the death earlier Wednesday as he was heading to a friend's home in north Minneapolis.

Suspect: Michael J. Vanwagner, 24, pictured left and right, of Coon Rapids, caused not one but two crashes on July 22 along Hwy. 252 in Brooklyn Park, according to the State Patrol

'Police came and arrested me [Wednesday] morning and let me out because the charges won't be coming for months,' he said, according to the Star Tribune.



Over the weekend, McCarthy's family posted on CaringBridge that 'the injuries to Jason during the impact of the accident were too much for him to survive.



'Jason is currently on life support so family can get here and say goodbye.'



He would have been a junior at Champlin Park High School. He was an honors student and played bass guitar in the high school band and with friends in a rock band called the Crak Pots, his aunt Brigid Klaysmat told the Star Tribune.

Tragic: The teen victim, Jason McCarthy, pictured, was rushed to North Memorial Medical Center where he clung to life for days before dying on Tuesday

'He loved trying everything and had a very adventurous spirit and a wonderful sense of humor,' Klaysmat said.



Vanwagner sideswiped a vehicle at Hwy. 252 and 73rd Avenue before continuing south where he struck McCarthy's car from behind, leaving both cars totaled.



State Patrol Sgt. Jesse Grabow said the 'odor of alcoholic beverage was noticed' on his breath.



Results of a blood alchohol test are pending, as are the charges against the driver, who according to state records had a revoked license.

