Man sentenced for charge stemming 2019 crash that killed 2-year-old
A Blaine man has learned his punishment for his role in a fatal 2019 crash in Coon Rapids.
Court records show 57-year-old Pedro Ricardo Flores was sentenced Friday afternoon.
As laid out in his plea deal, Flores will spend 210 days in a workhouse over a staggered period in the next two years.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS previously reported Flores pleaded guilty to one felony count of criminal vehicular homicide – gross negligence in October of 2022 as part of a plea deal.
As outlined in the deal, he was sentenced to serve 90 days in the Anoka County workhouse or on work release, starting in the next 30 days. Then, he’ll serve another 60 days starting in November before serving the final 60 days starting in November 2024.
He also received a stay of imposition on his criminal vehicular homicide conviction and had all the other charges against him dismissed.
Previously, Flores was also charged with one count of criminal vehicular homicide – negligence and under the influence, one count of criminal vehicular operation causing great bodily harm and gross negligence, one count of criminal vehicular operation causing great bodily harm while being under the influence, one count of criminal vehicular operation causing substantial bodily harm and gross negligence, one count of criminal vehicular operation causing substantial bodily harm while under the influence and one count of second-degree driving while impaired.
Last November, a judge dismissed the charges against Flores, saying there wasn’t enough evidence. The charges were reinstated in July by the Minnesota Court of Appeals after the state appealed this decision.
As previously reported, Flores pleaded not guilty to the charges in August.
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Prosecutors allege that on Nov. 30, 2019, in Coon Rapids, Flores drove too fast for the snowy and slippery road conditions, causing his Toyota Camry to spin out. The Camry then crossed the median and hit another vehicle head-on.
A 5-year-old and a 2-year-old were injured in the crash. The 2-year-old later died.