People gathered in July 2023 to release balloons in memory of Andrew Hyde where his car was hit by a stolen vehicle. (Jeff Wheeler/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

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Sue Kilkus prepared to leave her home in Madison, Wis., last week to confront the most painful public challenge of her life. She had been subpoenaed to testify in a Hennepin County courtroom against the man who stole her car in the summer of 2023 while she visited family in Minneapolis. The thief crashed into another motorist, Andrew W. Hyde, killing him.

The pain of being tangentially associated with the fatal car crash was recently compounded by fresher grief the retired marriage and family therapist experienced due the loss of her spouse of 55 years this past October.

Then, Kilkus caught a break.

She learned that Presley A. Peltier, of Minneapolis, agreed in Hennepin County District Court to plead guilty to criminal vehicular homicide in connection with the July 2023 crash at the corner of Washington and N. 22nd avenues. She would not have to testify.

Relief was short-lived. When Kilkus learned the terms of the plea agreement accepted by Peltier, she was sickened to her stomach. Anger and a torrent of questions quickly followed.

The plea agreement between the defense and prosecutors calls for Peltier to serve a 6½-year term for the fatal crash, and a concurrent 1½ years for fleeing police. Given credit for time already served since his arrest, Peltier will serve slightly less than 3½ years in prison and the balance on supervised release.

Now, Kilkus is looking for answers, but where does a therapist turn for help? She decided to write a letter to the editor. She said she hoped to reignite a conversation that Minnesota — and many other places — are forced to consider far too often. How do we keep criminally dangerous drivers off the road?

”This sentence is an appalling insult. It can be said that no amount of time can right the loss of life; however, there needs to be a more serious response to actions that have harmed so many victims on so many levels,” she wrote.

“This sentence does not reflect the level of responsibility Mr. Peltier must hold for his actions. This is not a plea for vengeance, but a plea for justice, for responsibility to the community and for advancing the ideals of owning responsibility for harmful actions.”

After reading Kilkus’ letter, I gave her a call. In lieu of a letter, I decided to further amplify her voice and concerns with a column.

“How is this justice?” Kilkus asked about the plea agreement when I reached her on the phone.

“What is the missing piece that fails to require people to take full responsibility for their actions?

“How does anyone course-correct their life when there is such minimal consequence for such deadly and socially abhorrent behavior?”

“We have to do better,” she concluded.

Minnesota has experienced other painful roadway loss in the past year or so. Too many lives have been cut short by irresponsible people who demonstrate criminal disregard for publicly shared spaces and the individual dreams and aspirations of others. Just to name a couple:

Natalie Gubbay, 26, was killed by a motorist last month while she was waiting at a stoplight. She was still fairly new to Minneapolis, having moved here in 2022 to take a research position associated with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Now she’s gone. The victim of an unlicensed motorist, who was pushing 100 miles per hour with an open container when police say he caused a chain-reaction seven-car pileup.

The community will long remember the five young Somali women who were instantly killed in June 2023 when an SUV plowed into them after the driver led police on a chase at speeds approaching 100 mph. They were preparing to go to a wedding the following day. Derrick John Thompson saw to it that they didn’t make it.

Thompson, the driver of that killer vehicle, was convicted on federal drug charges last month but still awaits sentence. His state case, which was upgraded from criminal vehicular homicide to murder, is scheduled for trial in February 2025.

As Kilkus reflected on these cases and the one that ensnared her, she admits she’s lost a lot of faith and trust in the criminal justice system. She’s far from alone. The fact that Peltier is scheduled to be released in a little over three years and counting gives her anxiety.

“That sentence makes you afraid he’s going to do it again.”

She’s right. We must do better.