Heart-Wrenching Testimonies Emerge in Deadly Minneapolis Crash Trial
ICARO Media Group
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Jurors delved deeper into the tragic Minneapolis crash trial on Monday, hearing from experts and witnesses about the accident that took the lives of five women nearly two years ago. Derrick Thompson, 29, stands accused of multiple counts of criminal vehicular homicide and five counts of third-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the fatal incident.
Minnesota State Patrol crash reconstructionist, Sgt. Kristofer Geiger, provided critical insights into the fatal crash, describing it as "one of the worst crash scenes [he's] ever responded to." Geiger recounted arriving at the scene and finding all five victims in the Honda Civic deceased. Videos from various angles of the crash were shown to the courtroom, eliciting emotional reactions from loved ones of the victims present.
Geiger revealed that, according to his investigation, the Cadillac involved was traveling at a dangerous speed of 111 mph just eight seconds before the impact. The accelerator was pressed to 91% - nearly to the floor - 3.5 seconds prior to the collision, causing the vehicle to crash at a speed between 77-84 mph in a zone with a speed limit of 20 mph.
Defense arguments suggested the possibility of a second person in the vehicle due to modules connected to the airbags, which indicated the presence of an adult in the seat. Geiger, however, countered this claim, explaining that according to the Cadillac’s manual, even a backpack in the front seat could trigger the module.
The prosecution also called Trooper Vincent Wren to testify. He recounted helping clear the Cadillac Escalade after the crash, with footage from his body-worn camera showing the difficult process of opening the damaged vehicle doors, confirming that no one else was inside.
Further testimony came from two Minneapolis police officers who detailed Thompson’s arrest and his subsequent transfer to a hospital. Footage captured on a squad camera showed Thompson expressing a desire not to remain at the hospital overnight. A forensic scientist from the Minneapolis Police Department matched a fingerprint inside the vehicle to Thompson, affirming his presence at the scene.
Two forensic scientists from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reported that Thompson's blood tests revealed the presence of specific cannabis strains, although he tested negative for alcohol.
The trial, which unfolds with emotional testimonies and factual derivations, is expected to continue through this week and potentially into the next. Thompson has entered a plea of not guilty to the state charges while already being found guilty on federal charges related to guns and drugs discovered in his SUV.