Minnesota Woman Accused of Driving Drunk & Killing Pregnant Woman

Coon Rapids, MN (KROC-AM News) - Multiple felony charges have been filed against a 20-year-old Minnesota woman accused of driving drunk and causing a crash on Sunday night that claimed the life of a pregnant woman.

According to a criminal complaint filed today in Anoka County Court, a preliminary breath test measured Makayla April Sue Richardson's blood-alcohol-concentration at .18 after the pickup she was driving collided with an SUV at an intersection in Coon Rapids. A passenger in the SUV, 26-year-old Melinda Thao of Coon Rapids later died at a Twin Cities hospital, along with her unborn child.

The charges against Richardson allege the Mounds View woman, who was pulling a trailer with her pickup, drove through a red light and smashed into the SUV, which was turning left on a green arrow. The 27-year-old man driving the SUV suffered broken ribs in the crash.

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The criminal complaint indicates Richardson admitted consuming alcohol before she got behind the wheel, but told officers at the scene that she had only one drink. It also says she admitted she was speeding and that she did not have a valid driver's license.

Richardson is charged with one count of criminal vehicular homicide and two counts of criminal vehicular operation, including one involving the death of an unborn child. She also faces a misdemeanor count of DWI.

Following her arraignment on the charges today, Richardson's conditional bail was set at $100,000.

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