COON RAPIDS, Minn. — A 20-year-old Mounds View woman is charged after a pregnant woman was killed in a crash Sunday night in Coon Rapids.
Prosecutors say Makayla April Sua Richardson was driving under the influence when she struck an SUV near the intersection of Coon Rapids Boulevard Northwest and Springbrook Drive Northwest just before 9:30 p.m. Sunday. The passenger in the SUV has been identified as 26-year-old Melinda Thao. Court documents also revealed that Thao was five months pregnant at the time of the crash.
Richardson faces four charges, including criminal vehicular homicide and causing the death of an unborn child while operating a vehicle under the influence.
According to court documents, Thao was the passenger of an SUV that was traveling eastbound on Coon Rapids Boulevard Northwest. The criminal complaint says the SUV had a green arrow, and was attempting to turn onto Springbrook Drive when a truck pulling a trailer went through a red light and struck the SUV. Witnesses confirmed the SUV had a green arrow at the time of the crash.
Both Thao and the driver of the SUV were transported to a hospital, where Thao later died. Officials also confirmed Thao's unborn baby had also died. The driver of the SUV suffered broken ribs, according to the criminal complaint.
Court documents say Richardson told officers she had one drink, but acknowledged that she was speeding. She also didn't have a valid driver's license, according to the complaint.
Officers found an alcoholic beverage in Richardson's vehicle and eventually conducted a sobriety test, which police say Richardson failed. She also had a .18 in her preliminary breath test (PBT) sample, according to police.
In a GoFundMe account post, Thao's husband Chris Yang says the couple first started dating in high school in 2013 and had been together since. Their life plan was built purposefully, with both concentrating on careers and purchasing a home before starting a family. Yang shared that they had struggled with infertility, but with the help of treatment Melinda became pregnant and the couple learned that the baby was a daughter, who they named Leona.
Yang says he is struggling to recover from the crash both physically and emotionally, but is focused on getting justice and closure for Melinda and Leona.
Donations will help pay funeral and burial costs for Melinda and her unborn child.
