Minneapolis Man Pleads Guilty To High-Speed Crash That Killed Special Ed Teacher

Minneapolis Man Pleads Guilty To High-Speed Crash That Killed Special Ed Teacher

The teacher's husband was also seriously injured in the crash.

A Minneapolis man will serve over 13 years in prison for causing the death of a special ed teacher and seriously injuring her husband when he struck their minivan while fleeing police.

Quintin Hudson, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of fleeing a peace officer resulting in death and one count of fleeing a peace officer resulting in great bodily harm in Hennepin County court on Monday. Under the terms of the plea, the two criminal vehicular homicide and operation charges will be dropped and he will be sentenced to 165 months in prison.

He was charged in July 2023 after causing the death of mother-of-two Emily Gerding, 34, and the severe injury to her husband, John Gerding, 34, while fleeing from a traffic stop.

Both Gerdings worked as special ed teachers at Coon Rapids Middle School.

The complaint says that on July 8, 2023, an officer initially saw Hudson driving a Tesla at around 55 mph in a 30 mph zone and making abrupt traffic lane changes while going eastbound on 42nd Avenue North. As the officer followed him to initiate a stop, Hudson began speeding up.

The officer activated their lights, causing Hudson to "accelerate rapidly" and flee from the officer, reaching up to speeds of 90 miles per hour before striking Gerdings' minivan a short time later as he ran a stop sign at North Orchard and 36th Avenues, despite the Gerdings' having the right of way at the time.

Hudson didn't have a valid driver's license at the time of the crash, only an instructional permit and when asked why he didn't stop for police, he said, "he didn't want to", the complaint says.

Authorities later found out the Tesla was a rental and wasn't registered to Hudson, with the registered owner claiming he didn't know Hudson, according to a search warrant. Hudson was also found with about $4,000 in cash and checks, debit and credit cards in his possession at the time of his arrest.

The Gerdings had to be extricated from their minivan and Emily was pronounced dead later at the hospital. Her husband, John suffered a traumatic brain injury and brain bleeding due to the crash, and was in a coma for a few days after the incident.

"Emily should still be alive,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “Mr. Hudson’s actions took her from our community, devastated her family, and left her husband, John, with life-threatening injuries. This resolution holds Mr. Hudson accountable and is necessary to protect our community."

The sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for Dec. 12, at 1:30 p.m.

SOURCE: Bring Me The News