Pickup driver charged with death of pregnant woman in Coon Rapids crash

A pickup truck driver who crashed into an SUV in Coon Rapids over the weekend has been charged with the death of its female passenger and her unborn child.

Mayaka Richardson, 20, of Mounds View, has been charged with criminal vehicular homicide, DWI, and two counts of criminal vehicular operation following the collision on Sunday.

The criminal complaint says a Toyota Highlander was traveling eastbound on Coon Rapids Boulevard and turning left onto Springbrook Drive under a protected green light when it was struck by an F-350 pulling a trailer, which was driven by Richardson.

Witnesses confirmed that Richardson ran a red light at the intersection.

The driver and passenger of the Toyota Highlander were taken to the hospital for medical treatment. The woman, who was five months pregnant, died in the hospital, as did her unborn baby. The driver sustained broken ribs.

Richardson confessed to police to have been drinking before driving and not having a valid driver’s license.

Officers saw empty alcohol cans in her car during the crash. A standardized field sobriety test was conducted and a breathalyzer gave a blood-alcohol reading of 0.18 – more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

A warrant was issued for a blood sample, and results are still pending.

She is being held in the Anoka County Jail on a $400,000 bail.

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