Woman Gets 4 Years In Prison For Crashing While High, Killing Abigail Anderson

A woman has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to driving while high when she fatally struck 29-year-old Abigail Anderson.

Melinda Dotray, 48, was sentenced to 48 months in prison Friday for the Aug. 14, 2021 crash.

Dotray had previously pleaded to criminal vehicular homicide while operating a vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, with the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office dropping four other charges against her – including third-degree murder – in exchange for the plea.

The crash happened at the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and Larpenteur Avenue in Falcon Heights on the evening of Aug. 14, when Anderson was walking near the University of Minnesota's Elizabeth Lyle Robbie soccer stadium.

Dotray hit a parked car with her truck, sending it into Anderson. Dortray then crashed through a fence and went onto a nearby golf course before turning around and running over Anderson.

Dotray’s truck was found to have methamphetamine inside, and she later tested positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine and fentanyl, according to the criminal complaint.

Vehicle data also revealed that the truck was traveling between 62 and 64 mph at the time of the crash.

Anderson, the sister of the late Gophers and Team USA track star Gabe Grunewald, had worked as a pediatric nurse at Children's Minnesota for more than eight years.

She had also taken a job at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing as a clinical instructor and teaching assistant.

SOURCE: Bring Me The News