Derrick Thompson Gets 14 Year Federal Prison Sentence in Case Tied to Crash That Killed Five Minneapolis Women

(KNSI) — A man already serving time in state prison for causing a crash that killed five young women will now serve a 14 year federal sentence for drug and weapons possession.

Thirty-year-old Derrick John Thompson was clocked going 95 miles an hour on 35W by a Minnesota State Patrol trooper in June of 2023. Thompson cut across four lanes of traffic to exit at Lake Street before running a red light at 2nd Avenue South and East Lake Street, slamming into a Honda Civic at full speed. All five young women in the car were killed. They were coming from a session where they had gotten henna done in preparation for a friend’s wedding, which was the next day.

After the crash, Thompson fled the scene, but was picked up at a restaurant nearby after bystanders called the police. He was found sitting on the curb in the parking lot and had injuries consistent with being in a car accident. He was bleeding from a cut on his forehead, had blood on his hands and clothing, and was sweating profusely. Investigators asked about how he got hurt, and Thompson initially told officers, “I cut myself. This is old. This is an old cut.” Police pressed him, saying his injuries looked recent. Thompson then told officers that he was injured when he “fell” earlier in the night.

A search of his rented Cadillac Escalade SUV turned up a loaded Glock with an extended magazine, more than 2,000 fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, cocaine, and a digital scale. Thompson’s DNA was found on the firearm and drugs. A search of his phone revealed dozens of texts indicating he had been selling the drugs.

Thompson was convicted on federal counts for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a felon, and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

Thompson has a prior felony conviction from a 2018 hit-and-run while fleeing police in California. In that case, the victim was left in a coma and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Thompson also allegedly fled the scene of that crash. Police say they found 17 pounds of marijuana and $20,000 in cash in the trunk of the car. Thompson was tracked down in St. Paul and taken into custody. He pleaded guilty in Santa Barbara County court and was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2020, but was released early.

We contacted the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for information about how Thompson obtained a Minnesota driver’s license. Our calls and emails were not returned.

Derrick Thompson is the son of former Minnesota State Representative John Thompson. The Democrat was famously pulled over in July 2021 in St. Paul because his car didn’t have a front license plate. The lawmaker then presented a Wisconsin state identification card and was cited for driving with a suspended license.

Thompson later stated that he was racially profiled and “got a ticket for driving while Black.” In the aftermath, news came to light that Thompson had been involved in five domestic assault investigations from 2003 to 2011.

Several state officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, subsequently called on Thompson to resign from the legislature. The DFL caucus expelled him on September 14th, 2021. He failed to win his party’s endorsement for reelection in 2022 and was defeated by 90 points in the primary.

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