Rolando Miranda Martinez, 58, was charged with one count of leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death, announced Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena.
According to the criminal complaint, on Saturday, March 7 at approximately 2 a.m., officers from the Eagan Police Department responded to a report of a hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian. When they arrived at the scene, officers found 40-year-old, Leslie Anne Youngberg of Bloomington, lying face down on the pavement. She was unresponsive. Youngberg was then transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The reporting party told officers that he and Youngberg were walking northbound on Nicols Road and crossed Cliff Road. The victim was then hit by a vehicle traveling eastbound on Cliff Road. The driver did not stop and continued driving east.
On March 7, around 11:15 a.m., Eagan officers located an SUV with front-end damage that belonged to Miranda Martinez parked at his home. Officers used the car parts left at the scene and camera footage to help identify the vehicle.
As officers were waiting for back up, they saw Miranda Martinez leave the residence. He was arrested shortly thereafter.
After Miranda Martinez was advised of his Miranda rights, he admitted to driving at the time of the crash when he hit “something." He said a “thing" jumped out at him, breaking the windshield. He also admitted to leaving the scene. Miranda Martinez said he was on his way home from a bar in Minneapolis but denied drinking.
Officers obtained search warrants for both Miranda Martinez's phone as well as a blood sample. The Minnesota State Patrol conducted an accident reconstruction. At this time, all results are pending.
Miranda Martinez is currently in custody at the Dakota County Jail. Bail was set for $300,000 with conditions ($500,000 without) by Judge Patrick Biren. His next court hearing is March 31 at 1:30 p.m. in Hastings.
County Attorney Keena thanked the Eagan Police Department and the Minnesota State Patrol for the investigation of the incident.
A summary of the facts pertaining to this case can be found in the criminal complaint at Criminal Complaint Search.
*Criminal charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant/suspect is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.