One of Pa Chia Vang’s hit-and-run victims walked with a cane to the witness stand, where she said her life will never be the same — physically, mentally and financially — because of what Vang did to her and her sister-in-law last May in St. Paul.
The woman, who is 52, is not able to perform everyday tasks or drive due to double vision.
“I can’t even pick up my grandchild, who is about 20 pounds, just to hug her,” she said in a Ramsey County courtroom on Tuesday at Vang’s sentencing.
Pa Chia Vang (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)
The other victim, who is 48, was near the courtroom’s swinging door in a wheelchair. Her daughter delivered her victim impact statement in which she said “the chance to live a long, healthy and fulfilling life was stolen from me by someone who chose to run instead of taking responsibility.”
Vang, 45, occasionally wiped away tears.
Ramsey County District Judge Edward Sheu went on to give her 30 days in the workhouse — the most he could under a December plea agreement — and five years of probation for hitting the two women with her SUV as they crossed Idaho Avenue near White Bear Avenue shortly before midnight May 4, and then leaving the scene.
Vang wasn’t identified as a suspect until after police received an anonymous tip in the case a month later. She was charged July 11 by warrant and arrested the next day.
Vang had spent more than two hours at a bar and restaurant near the hit-and-run scene. When she pleaded guilty in December to criminal vehicular operation that caused substantial bodily harm and leaving the scene, she also said she had been drinking before the crash, according to Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Nelson Rhodus.
“But that wasn’t part of the elements of the offense, because we couldn’t prove that,” he said. “She had fled the scene already. So it was charged out as just a hit-and-run.”
Driver left scene while victims were ‘fighting for our lives’
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the 52-year-old victim lying on the ground near the parking lot of Exquisite Cake Bakery. She had a puddle of blood behind her head and St. Paul fire medics took her to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with fractured pelvic bones and spinal fractures.
“The driver left the scene with no regard for human life, while we were laying on the ground fighting for our lives,” she told the court Tuesday.
Medics brought the second victim to the hospital in critical condition. Her injuries included a skull fracture, a traumatic brain injury, fractured ribs and spinal injuries.
The criminal complaint says officers spoke to a witness who reported a sport-utility vehicle sped west on Idaho Avenue when the two women were crossing the street. The SUV struck both women and continued north on White Bear Avenue.
Surveillance video from the area showed the driver of the SUV appeared to brake upon impact and then the vehicle swerved before continuing on.
Officers also found two car parts that appeared to be left behind from the SUV. They were identified as coming from a BMW X5 that was made between 2000 and 2006.
Police had asked for tips in the case on June 5, while releasing a photo of the female suspect from White Dragon Hall and saying she drove a dark-colored vehicle.
An anonymous tip led to police identifying Vang as a suspect. The tipster reported that a woman who lived on Bradley Street near Arlington Avenue drove a black BMW SUV that may have been involved. On June 6, officers found a 2005 BMW X5 — with damage to its front end — parked on Bradley Street in front of Pa Chia Vang’s home.
Vang’s husband was the vehicle’s registered owner and she had her identification scanned at the White Dragon, the complaint says.
Surveillance video showed that a person who appeared to be Vang went into White Dragon at 9:26 p.m. on May 5 and left at 11:52 p.m. She “stumbled” as she left and someone helped her continue walking, according to the complaint.
‘Remorse is very real’
The plea agreement included a 30-day jail cap, supervised probation and 100 hours of community service. If Vang follows conditions of probation, her conviction will become a misdemeanor. It also included completing a chemical dependency evaluation, writing apology letters to the victims and attending a Mothers Against Drunk Driving impact panel, all things Vang did before Tuesday.
A second, lesser charge of criminal vehicular operation — causing great bodily harm and leaving the scene — was dismissed.
Prosecutor Rhodus told the court that he believes state sentencing guidelines are “quite light” for the offense when considering the harm typically caused is “so severe and has such a tremendous impact on the lives of those who are involved.” He asked Judge Sheu to give Vang the full 30 days.
Vang’s attorney, Jack Rice, said she has taken responsibility and her “remorse is very real.”
“I know that the court has read those apology letters that she wrote,” Rice told the court. “She truly meant it.”
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Rice proposed three 10-day sentences, with the time served during the anniversaries of the crash. Sheu opted for Vang to serve the sentence at one time, beginning March 7.
Vang, who declined to address the court, must also pay a total of $151,476.78 in restitution to the two victims.
Sheu said he agrees with Rhodus that the “law in this area is actually kind of lenient, as you can see from the harm and damage caused.”
“I really feel the impact from the victims here,” he added. “They will face architectural barriers, among other things forever, possibly, which is tremendously hard to watch and understand. So I hope you don’t drink ever again, and can make it right financially with the victims.”
