Drunk Driver Killed Woman, Unborn Baby In Twin Cities Crash: Police

COON RAPIDS, MN — A 20-year-old woman from Mounds View blew a red light and drunkenly crashed into another vehicle in Coon Rapids on Sunday, killing a woman and her unborn baby, authorities said.

Authorities identified the deceased woman as Melinda Thao, 26, of Coon Rapids.

Makayla April Sua Richardson, 20, was charged Tuesday with:

• Count I: Criminal Vehicular Homicide - Operate Vehicle with Negligence - Under Influence Alcohol
• Count II: Criminal Vehicular Operation - Death Unborn Child - Negligent - Under Influence Alcohol
• Count III: Criminal Vehicular Operation - Great Bodily Harm - Under Influence Alcohol
• Count IV: Traffic - DWI - Operate Motor Vehicle Under Influence of Alcohol

If convicted, Richardson faces up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Richardson is being held in jail on 400,000 bail.

On Aug. 18, Coon Rapids Police were dispatched to a crash at Coon Rapids Boulevard and Springbrook Drive.

Police learned that a Toyota Highlander was traveling eastbound on Coon Rapids Boulevard and — with a green arrow — turned left onto Springbrook Drive.

The Highlander was struck by an F-350 pulling a trailer, police said. The driver was identified as Richardson.

"Witnesses confirmed that the Toyota Highlander had a green arrow," and that Richardson "had proceeded through the intersection against a red light," the criminal complaint states.

Both the passenger and the driver of the Toyota were hospitalized. Passenger Melinda Thao, who was five months pregnant, was declared deceased. The driver survived but sustained broken ribs from the crash.

Richardson acknowledged drinking alcohol before driving and told officers she had one drink, the criminal complaint states. She also acknowledged driving above the posted speed limit and not having a valid driver’s license, police said.

Officers saw an empty can of an alcoholic beverage inside of Richardson's vehicle, according to the criminal complaint. Richardson submitted to standardized field sobriety testing, which she failed, authorities said.

A preliminary breath test came back with a reading of .18 blood-alcohol content, according to investigators. The legal limit in Minnesota is .08.