A Minnesota man, Derrick Thompson, has been sentenced to nearly 60 years in prison for a horrific crash in 2023 that claimed the lives of five young women.
On Thursday, Thompson, 29, was sentenced to 58 years and five months for his reckless driving that led to the deaths of Salma Mohamed Abdikadir, Sahra Liban Gesaade, Sagal Burhaan Hersi, Siham Adan Odhowa, and Sabiriin Mohamoud Ali.
The victims, aged 17 to 20, were tragically killed when Thompson’s speeding Cadillac Escalade slammed into their vehicle.
The Fatal Incident
The deadly crash took place on June 16, 2023, when Thompson was driving a rented Cadillac Escalade at dangerously high speeds. According to authorities, Thompson was weaving in and out of traffic at speeds exceeding 110 mph, even after police attempted to pull him over.
He continued to drive recklessly, running a red light and crashing into a Honda Civic at an intersection, instantly killing all five women inside. The impact was so severe that the Civic was pinned against a bridge wall.
A Minnesota State Police trooper, who had been monitoring Thompson’s reckless driving, witnessed the crash from about 800 feet away. After the crash, Thompson fled the scene, limping to a nearby Taco Bell parking lot, where he was later found by police.
He had a gash on his forehead, which he claimed was from a previous injury, but witnesses identified him as the driver of the Escalade.
Thompson’s Actions and Conviction
Thompson was convicted last month of five counts of third-degree murder and 10 counts of vehicular homicide. Despite initially denying responsibility, he later admitted to being the driver of the vehicle, though he continued to minimize the severity of his actions.
At his sentencing, Thompson expressed regret, saying that he wished he had died in the crash instead of the victims. However, prosecutors highlighted that Thompson continued to downplay his choices leading up to the crash, referring to it as a mere “accident” and providing an implausible explanation for his failure to check on the victims afterward.
Prosecutors also revealed that Thompson had drugs in his system at the time of the crash, including THC, fentanyl, MDMA, and cocaine. He was also found to be in possession of a Glock with an extended magazine and thousands of pills of suspected fentanyl in the Escalade.
Emotional Victim Impact Statements
Family members of the victims spoke powerfully at Thompson’s sentencing, expressing their grief and anger over the loss of their loved ones. “You should never know freedom again.
You should never know peace,” said Sundus, the sister of one of the victims, Siham Odhowa. The victims’ families emphasized how Thompson’s reckless actions had forever changed their lives and the community.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty emphasized the importance of holding Thompson accountable for his actions, stressing that “vehicles can easily become weapons when drivers make poor choices.” She highlighted that the length of Thompson’s sentence ensures he will not cause such devastation again.
Thompson’s Criminal History and Legal Drama
This crash was not Thompson’s first run-in with the law. He had been released from prison in California only six months prior, where he had served time for another motor vehicle incident. In that case, he had been fleeing from police and crashed into a pedestrian, severely injuring her.
Authorities also found large amounts of drugs and cash in the vehicle at that time.
During the Minnesota trial, Thompson’s brother, Damarco Thompson, was subpoenaed to testify. His testimony played a critical role in securing the conviction, as it helped clear up confusion about who was driving the Escalade during the crash.
Damarco explained that he had been following Derrick and had driven him to the car rental facility, which was key to identifying Derrick as the driver.
Derrick Thompson’s sentencing marks a tragic end to a case that devastated the families of five young women. His reckless actions and criminal history resulted in a preventable tragedy that has left a lasting impact on the victims’ loved ones.
With his lengthy sentence, Thompson will face the consequences of his actions for decades, ensuring that he cannot harm others in the same way again.
