After Minneapolis Tragedy, Coleman Urges Passage of SF 323

Minnesota State Senator Julia Coleman is renewing her push to strengthen penalties for suspects who endanger lives while fleeing law enforcement. Her call comes in the wake of a devastating crash in Minneapolis, where two young women were killed and a child was injured after a carjacker fleeing police slammed into their vehicle early Thursday morning.

Coleman, who has previously experienced her own family being put at risk by a fleeing suspect, said the latest tragedy underscores why the state must act. “Nobody should feel unsafe on the roads, and those who put others’ lives in danger while they flee law enforcement should be punished appropriately,” she said. “My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones in yesterday’s crash, and especially the 6-year-old boy who will grow up without a mother. There is no way to replace their loss, but we can get tough on crime, vigorously enforce the laws we have, and recognize that reckless behavior must be met with serious and unwavering consequences to improve public safety in our state.”

According to eyewitness accounts, the suspect was driving recklessly and had attempted multiple carjackings at gunpoint before police arrived. Officers engaged in a pursuit lasting about three minutes before the fatal crash occurred. The event has sparked renewed attention on how Minnesota law handles offenders who flee police in vehicles.

Coleman is the chief author of Senate File 323, legislation that would establish a new felony offense for fleeing police in a culpably negligent way. The proposed law would apply to individuals who, in the course of fleeing, create an unreasonable risk of death or great bodily harm to others. If passed, offenders could face up to four years in prison, an $8,000 fine, or both. The bill also mandates that anyone convicted of the crime would lose their driver’s license for a minimum of four years.

The legislation amends existing Minnesota statutes by adding this heightened penalty, making clear distinctions between ordinary fleeing offenses and those carried out in a dangerously negligent manner. Current law already carries stiff penalties for more extreme cases, such as fleeing that results in death or great bodily harm. Coleman’s bill seeks to close the gap between those high-level offenses and less severe charges by directly addressing reckless behavior that still places the public at significant risk.

Under SF 323, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety would be required to revoke licenses based on the new felony conviction, preventing offenders from immediately returning to the roads. The measure is set to take effect August 1, 2025, if passed, and would apply to crimes committed on or after that date.

For Coleman, the fight is both personal and public. She emphasized that no family should have to endure the pain of losing loved ones to someone who made the choice to run from the law. “Reckless behavior must be met with serious and unwavering consequences,” she said, urging the Legislature to act swiftly to advance her bill.

As the state debates how best to improve public safety, Coleman’s proposal puts accountability front and center — seeking to ensure that those who treat Minnesota’s roads like escape routes face consequences that match the gravity of their actions.