A Minnesota mother is facing serious felony charges after a reckless parenting decision led to a tragedy just miles from home.

Charlotte Free Breton, 36, of Cologne, was charged on August 7 with aiding and abetting two gross negligence felonies, criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation, in Wright County District Court.

Prosecutors say Breton let her 15-year-old daughter, who had no permit, license or prior driving experience, get behind the wheel of the family's minivan on May 3, just one day after the teen's birthday.

Breton's daughter was following GPS directions from her mother's phone at the time of the crash.

As the teen approached an intersection in Rockford, she reportedly took a turn too wide, then continued straight instead of stopping, sending the van onto a sidewalk where Laura Bachinski, 55, and her wife, Renee DeLong, 56, were walking.

Bachinski was pinned beneath the vehicle. Despite efforts from responding deputies and fire crews to free her and provide emergency care, she was pronounced dead at the scene. DeLong suffered significant injuries to her legs and was hospitalized.

Breton admitted to police that the crash was her fault because she told her daughter to drive.

County Attorney Brian Lutes said charging a passenger in a case like this is highly unusual. It is very rare for passengers to be held responsible for a driver's actions, The circumstances of this case are unique. The decisions that were made support the serious charge.

Lutes said it remains unclear whether the teen will face charges of her own, given her age. Breton's first court appearance is scheduled for September 18.