Mounds View driver sentenced for fatal DUI crash
A Mounds View woman, Makayla Richardson, was sentenced to four years in prison for driving drunk and causing a crash that killed Melinda Thao and her unborn child. She also received five years of probation after her prison term. Richardson, 20, crashed into Thao's SUV while speeding and running a red light. She had a blood alcohol level of 0.162, well above the legal limit. Thao's husband, Christopher Yang, expressed his grief in court, highlighting the loss of his wife and child. Richardson pleaded guilty in January to charges of criminal vehicular homicide and operation causing death. She had no prior criminal history and expressed remorse for her actions during the sentencing.