Southeastern Minnesota Man Sentenced For Deadly 2022 Hit and Run

Austin, MN (KROC-AM News) - An Austin man has been ordered to prison for killing a woman in a hit and run crash.

37-year-old Darren Finley was sentenced this afternoon in Mower County Court for his conviction on a criminal vehicular homicide charge. He entered a guilty plea to the charge in May under a plea deal with prosecutors that called for a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail with probation.

Finley was accused of causing the death of 41-year-old Melissa Rack on December 30, 2022. According to court records, he was accused of driving drunk when his vehicle struck the woman on Oakland Place next to East Side Park in Austin.

The criminal complaint says a witness saw a white SUV stop near the site of the fatal collision, and then saw the driver run back to where the victim was located before returning to the SUV and speeding away. Austin police investigating the incident later found the damaged SUV parked in the driveway several blocks away.

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The charges stated that Austin Police officers then spoke with Finley and described him as having glassy eyes and appearing to be intoxicated. The court document indicated Finley initially denied involvement, but later admitted he was driving and "hit something."

Despite the plea agreement calling for a jail sentence, the judge presiding over the case today ordered Finley to serve a nearly 5 year prison sentence. He was given credit for 60 days he has already spent in jail.

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