Man Pleaded Guilty In Crash That Killed Burnsville Pedestrian

BURNSVILLE, MN — A Minneapolis man pleaded guilty in a 2021 crash that killed 62-year-old Stephan Rice, of Burnsville, and sent a second pedestrian to the hospital.

Thomas Hunter, 27, was charged with criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation in connection with the crash, according to a criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court. He has not been sentenced yet.

Authorities were called to a two-vehicle crash off of 10th Street and Marquette Avenue on May 24, around 5:42 p.m., according to officials. Two pedestrians had been hit by one of the vehicles, police said.

Rice was brought to Hennepin County Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, according to his daughter Hayley Rice McMullen.

Police determined that Hunter had driven through a red light and crossed into one-way traffic on 10th Street. He was hit by a vehicle that had right-of-way, police said.

The impact of the crash caused the rear of Hunter's vehicle to swing onto the sidewalk, hitting the two pedestrians, according to authorities.

Hunter was not hurt in the crash, police said.

At the time of the crash, Hunter didn't have a valid driver's license and his license had been revoked multiple times due to his driving conduct, according to officials.

Editor's note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Rice was pronounced dead at the scene.