Eagan Man Sentenced After Pleading Guilty in Fatal Hit-and-Run That Killed 40-Year-Old Woman
Provided by the Dakota County Jail.
Published: June 11th, 2026
EAGAN, MN: An Eagan man who fled the scene after striking and killing a pedestrian earlier this year has been sentenced in Dakota County District Court. Rolando O. Miranda Martinez, 58, entered a guilty plea on April 15, 2026, to one count of Leaving the Scene of a Collision Resulting in Death. He was formally sentenced on June 11, 2026.
The conviction stems from a March 7, 2026, crash that claimed the life of Leslie Ann Youngberg, 40, near the intersection of Cliff Road and Nichols Road in Eagan.
Fatal Crash Occurred Early Morning
According to the criminal complaint, Eagan Police officers responded shortly after 2 a.m. on March 7 to reports of a hit-and-run crash. When officers arrived, they found Youngberg lying face down and unresponsive in the roadway on Cliff Road. Emergency responders transported her to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Investigators learned Youngberg and another individual had been walking northbound on Nichols Road and were crossing Cliff Road when she was struck by an eastbound vehicle. A witness told police he was approximately 20 feet ahead of Youngberg when the collision occurred.
The driver did not stop and continued eastbound after the crash.
Investigation Led Police to Eagan Resident
Using vehicle debris left at the scene and surveillance footage from nearby businesses, investigators identified a white Honda CR-V believed to have been involved in the collision. Police later located the damaged vehicle at Miranda Martinez's Eagan residence.
According to court documents, officers observed Miranda Martinez removing a backpack from the vehicle before entering an Uber. Police stopped the Uber and arrested him. While seated in a squad car, Miranda Martinez allegedly made several spontaneous statements, including references to "one person in the road" and identifying the victim as a woman. After being advised of his rights, investigators say he admitted he had been driving his Honda CR-V around the time of the crash and struck what he initially described as "something" in the roadway. He told police he was returning home from a bar in Minneapolis but denied consuming alcohol.
Miranda Martinez reportedly told investigators he left the scene because he was scared.
Prior DWI History
At the time charges were filed, court records showed Miranda Martinez had three prior Minnesota DWI convictions:
March 2012 — Dakota County misdemeanor DWI
January 2017 — Hennepin County gross misdemeanor DWI
May 2023 — Hennepin County gross misdemeanor DWI
The 2023 conviction stemmed from a rollover crash in Richfield in which court records indicated he was found to be impaired and had a blood-alcohol concentration above the legal limit.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Court records show Miranda Martinez entered a guilty plea on April 15, 2026. He was sentenced on June 11, 2026, by Dakota County District Court Judge Luis Morales.
Under the sentence, Miranda Martinez received:
A 12-month prison sentence that was stayed for three years
Three years of supervised probation
180 days in the Dakota County Jail, with credit for 97 days already served
Chemical dependency evaluation and compliance with treatment recommendations
Completion of the Driving With Care cognitive skills program
Completion of the Safe Streets First program
Attendance at a victim impact panel
Random testing as directed by probation
A prohibition on possessing firearms, ammunition, or explosives
Restitution to be determined at a later date
Thirty total days of electronic alcohol home monitoring spread over the probationary period
Thirty total days of sentence-to-service work during probation
Miranda Martinez was convicted of Leaving the Scene of a Collision Resulting in Death involving a driver who did not cause the collision but failed to stop and notify authorities as required under Minnesota law.
Written By: Will Wight
