Minneapolis man pleads guilty to high-speed crash that killed special ed teacher

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.

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