Woman admits she was drunk when she killed expectant mom, unborn child in Twin Cities crash

A 21-year-old woman has admitted to being drunk when she caused a collision at a Coon Rapids intersection that killed a passenger in the other vehicle and the baby she was excited to bring into the world.

Makayla April Sua Richardson, of Mounds View, pleaded guilty Wednesday to criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicle operation for causing “the death of an unborn child” in connection with the crash on Aug. 18 at NW. Coon Rapids Boulevard and Springbrook Drive.

Five weeks earlier, Melinda Thao, 26, of Coon Rapids, sat with her husband, Christopher Yang, in their vehicle with anticipation and read a phone message that told them she was pregnant with a daughter. They were going to name her Leona.

Richardson remains jailed in lieu of $400,000 bail ahead of sentencing, which is scheduled for March 14.

The state Department of Public Safety said Richardson was driving on an instruction permit that required her to have with her a licensed driver 18 years of age or older. The criminal complaint made no mention of Richardson having a passenger.

According to the complaint and a related court document:

Yang, driving an SUV, was turning left with a green arrow from eastbound Coon Rapids Boulevard to northbound Springbrook Drive when he was struck by Richardson as she went through a red light while heading west and pulling a trailer.

Richardson, who was 20 years old at the time of the crash and too young to consume alcohol legally, told officers at the scene that she had one drink that evening. She also acknowledged she was speeding and lacked a valid license. In a later interview with police, she said she had two shots of alcohol and half an alcoholic seltzer.