Southern Minnesota Teen Sentenced For Fatal Street Racing Crash

Mankato, MN (KROC-AM News) - A southern Minnesota teenager is headed to prison for taking a man's life while she was racing another car last summer.

19-year-old Kaylee Lynette Richmond of North Mankato was charged with criminal vehicular homicide following the fatal incident on the night of August 14, 2023. The criminal complaint says she was driving a car that struck and killed a 66-year-old Jeffrey Ward of Mankato.

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The court document says a State Patrol reconstruction of the vehicle-pedestrian collision estimated that Richmond's car was traveling at between 70 to 75 mph when it struck the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The deadly collision occurred on Madison Avenue, which is a busy four lane road on the eastern side of Mankato with a speed limit of 35 mph.

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According to the criminal complaint, a police officer who responded to the scene found the young woman "sobbing and hyperventilating" near the roadway. The officer reported that she stated that she was racing another vehicle and looked over at the other driver and when she looked back at the roadway there was "a guy in front of me."

Kaylee Richmond criminal complaint - Blue Earth County Court

The charges included a statement from a witness who saw the two vehicles racing and rapidly changing lanes just before Mr. Ward was struck by Richmond's car. Another witness reported to police that the second car "tore off," and continued eastbound on the roadway.

Richmond entered a guilty plea to the criminal vehicular homicide charge back in May. She was sentenced Friday to 41 months in prison.

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