Deadly Maplewood Crash: Man Gets 13 Years Of Prison In Hit-And-Run

STILLWATER, MN — A Wadena man who killed an 80-year-old woman while fleeing police in a stolen SUV was sentenced Friday to 13 years in prison, Washington County Attorney Kevin Magnuson announced.

Scott David Hardy, 36, pleaded guilty in February for his role in the crash that killed 80-year-old Shirley Bilden of Maplewood in 2021.

Under his plea deal, Hardy was convicted of the charge of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle resulting in death. The two lesser charges — receiving stolen property and attempted theft of a motor vehicle — were dismissed.

"The reckless actions of Mr. Hardy that day led to devastating consequences, and justice demands accountability," said Magnuson in a statement.

"Our hearts are with Shirley’s family and friends as they navigate the aftermath of this senseless loss."

At a sentencing hearing Friday, Hardy was sentenced to 166 months in prison with 2 years and 273 days credit for time served. He remains in custody at the Washington County Jail awaiting transfer to the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

Deadly July crash

Police were alerted to a stolen Chevrolet Tahoe parked outside of Cub Food in Oakdale at about 4 p.m. on July 10, 2021.

At the scene, officers identified the Tahoe driver as Hardy and told him to turn off the ignition and put his hands out the window, the criminal complaint states.

Hardy instead fled from police, driving through neighborhoods at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour, according to investigators.

Police called off the pursuit for safety reasons. Moments later, they observed a large plume of white smoke in the distance.

Hardy had run a red light at the intersection of Geneva Avenue and 10th Street, striking Bilden’s Chevrolet Malibu and leaving both cars severely damaged, according to investigators.

Witnesses watched Hardy flee from the scene, the criminal complaint states.

Bilden was bleeding from the mouth, had difficulty breathing, and suffered an apparent compound fracture to her left ankle and fractures to her back, shoulder, and vertebrae, police said.

Bilden was hospitalized but died from her injuries four days later.

Two occupants of the stolen SUV also sustained injuries from the crash and were hospitalized, according to authorities.

Hardy was located a short time after fleeing the crash at a nearby cemetery after he attempted to steal a woman’s car while she and her children were at a gravesite, investigators said. Citizens restrained him until police could apprehend him, according to police.