In the truck with the Carpentier’s was their friend, Kimberly Marie Gunderson (48), who also died
IT IS ENOUGH! POLICE PURSUITS FOR STOLEN PROPERTY MUST STOP. INNOCENT PEOPLE DIE.
3 Dead After Early Morning Crash Involving Stolen SUV In Minneapolis
By Jeff WagnerSeptember 23, 2018 at 5:58 pm
MINNEAPOLIS, MN (WCCO) —
Two families are grieving Sunday night after three people were killed in a crash in Minneapolis – hit by a driver who police say was in a stolen car.
“Total devastation. This just hit us like a ton of bricks,” AnnDee and Natasha Gunderson said.
These two women went to the scene Sunday morning to pay respects to their cousin who died. The crash happened right outside Matt’s Bar.
Investigators say it all began as police started to tail a stolen SUV. What followed was a brief pursuit – then the crash at the intersection of 35th Street and Cedar Avenue. The two vehicles involved ended up on the sidewalk – up against the traffic light post right outside the entrance to Matt’s Bar.
(credit: Carpentier Family)
Family members sent us this picture of Kenneth William (64) and Sheryl Lynn Carpentier (65). Both were killed when police say the stolen SUV rammed into them.
In the truck with the Carpentier’s was their friend, Kimberly Marie Gunderson (48), who also died. Investigators say troopers tried to pull over the stolen SUV, but the driver took off. They stopped their pursuit after about four blocks – but the SUV kept going – eventually crashing into Carpentier’s truck.
Gunderson’s cousins visited the scene this morning and were heartbroken.
“Just paying our condolences you know. Had to bring her flowers. Just sad, wanted to see what happened here you know. I don’t know, I’m at a loss for words,” AnnDee and Natasha Gunderson said.
The driver of the SUV is identified as 18-year-old Dayquan Jayru Hodge of Minneapolis. Investigators say he is at Hennepin County Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
They say four other teenagers were in the SUV with him – no word on if they were hurt.
A GoFundMe has been created to help both families with expenses.
September 23, 2018, Kenny and Sheryl Carpentier and Kim Gunderson, were tragically killed in a car accident at 35th and Cedar in Minneapolis. All we know we loss three beautiful people, caring, and loving to a senseless tragedy. Please take a moment to tell people you love and care for them. Life is a gift and it can all change in an instant. Please keep the family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
The driver of the SUV is identified as 18-year-old Dayquan Jayru Hodge of Minneapolis.
Mom of unlicensed teen who killed 3 in Mpls. crash says she didn't know he'd be driving
The teen's mother said she had "no idea" what her son was doing the night he fled capture, caused deadly wreck.
By Paul Walsh Star Tribune
September 24, 2018
The teenager who fled from state troopers in an SUV and caused a crash in south Minneapolis that killed three people in another vehicle has never had a driver's license and was serving probation for theft, his mother said Monday.
Dayquan Hodge, 18, remained hospitalized Monday at Hennepin County Medical Center with what the State Patrol said were life-threatening injuries sustained after he raced down Cedar Avenue and broadsided a pickup truck at E. 35th Street about 1:20 a.m. Sunday. He was listed in fair condition.
Four other teenagers in the vehicle with Hodge also were injured.
Kotrisha S. Brown, of Minneapolis, told the Star Tribune that her son was driving an SUV owned by his friend's mother. When the vehicle was reported stolen, the State Patrol launched a brief ground pursuit that was called off several blocks before the collision.
Brown said she had "no idea" what her son was doing that night, other than that he had left her home in the SUV with his friend.
"I didn't know he would be driving," she said of her son.
Kenny and Sheryl Carpentier, shown in a photo from social media, were both killed in a car crash by a driver fleeing law enforcement early Sunday morning, September 23, 2018 on Cedar Ave. S. in Minneapolis.
After being turned away Sunday from HCMC by security, Brown said she was allowed Monday to speak with her son.
"He's not taking what he did lightly," Brown said. "He feels really bad for the lives he has destroyed. He is willing to take responsibility for the part he played."
She said her son and the friend were at her home earlier in the evening and found it odd that the SUV was parked around the corner. The friend explained to her, Brown continued, that "his mom lets him drive it all the time."
Brown said that Hodge had a troubled background. She said he was convicted of theft when he was 16 and under child protection supervision for a time until a little more than a year ago.
The State Patrol was withholding the medical conditions and identities of the teens because "they may be charged," said Lt. Tiffani Nielson. Potential offenses range from curfew violations for the 13- and 14-year-old, Nielson said, to more serious counts for the two 16-year-olds and Hodge.
Brown said she had heard that one of the four injured teens was not doing well.
'Wasn't worth three lives'
Killed in the crash were Kimberly M. Gunderson, 48, of Minneapolis; and Kenneth and Sheryl Carpentier, 64 and 65 respectively, a married couple who split their time between the Twin Cities and Arizona.
The three were returning from an informal reunion on westbound 35th Street when the SUV, driving south on Cedar, hit the pickup. The impact left the mangled vehicles just outside the front door of Matt's Bar and Grill, a popular burger and drinking spot.
The patrol had pursued the SUV for about four blocks over roughly 30 seconds before easing off shortly before the crash.
Nielson said the patrol is working to determine whether agency policy was followed in the pursuit.
"This wasn't worth three lives," said Gunderson's cousin, Natasha Gunderson.
Joe Tamburino, a Minneapolis criminal defense attorney who serves on various business and neighborhood organizations, said he wants more emphasis placed on the young driver's actions rather than the propriety of the patrol's brief pursuit before the collision.
"Instead of calling out the criminal conduct of the 18-year old-driver — how he not only caused the death of three people, placed the general public at risk, and put four juvenile passengers at risk — there's no discussion of where the parents of these kids were," Tamburino said.
Brown said that she's thinking of the three people killed and their loved ones, as well as her son.
"My heart goes out to everyone who was affected by this accident," she said.