Criminal Vehicular Homicide Charges in St. Paul Hit-and-Run
Gabryella Liebgott, 22, faces criminal vehicular homicide charges; St. Thomas student killed in incident on Marshall Avenue Northeast.
Gabryella Liebgott, 22, of St. Paul, faces criminal vehicular homicide charges in the death of University of St. Thomas student Seham Hassen. A complaint alleges Liebgott was drinking at a bar before the fatal collision. Hassen, 22, died in the hospital after being struck along the 1600 block of Marshall Avenue Northeast in the early hours of Sunday, March 22. The criminal complaint against Liebgott details that Hassen was struck with such force that remnants of her clothing were torn from her body and scattered in the street. Two women in the car with Liebgott told police they had been drinking at the Minneapolis VFW prior to the hit-and-run. Liebgott also had a suspended license for failing to pay a traffic fine from 2023. Video footage showed Hassen and two other women exiting a vehicle parked on Marshall shortly after 3 a.m. Hassen and another woman stood near the fog line on the street, and Hassen appeared to turn away from the road as a vehicle veered toward the shoulder. The vehicle struck her and then abruptly maneuvered back into the driving lane, speeding away southbound on Marshall. The impact was violent, throwing Hassen onto the windshield before she fell beneath the car. Investigators identified the suspect vehicle, an Infiniti G35 sedan, at an auto shop specializing in vinyl exterior wraps. The vehicle was dropped off by a woman named “Gabby” sometime on March 24-25. Forensic examination of the vehicle turned up traces of blood and white fibers consistent with Hassen’s dress. Liebgott was arrested on Friday, April 3. She has prior convictions for speeding, driving without a driver’s license, and driving with open intoxicants in her vehicle.
Seham Hassen was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by Gabryella Liebgott on Marshall Avenue Northeast in St. Paul. The complaint details that Liebgott was allegedly drinking at a bar before the crash and was driving with a suspended license. The impact was violent, throwing Hassen onto the windshield before she fell beneath the car, with Liebgott fleeing the scene.
Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "Momentum equations don't lie; they help investigators see if a driver was speeding or braking before a fatal collision occurred." Forensic analysis helps to piece together the sequence of events and identify the responsible parties.
When a victim is killed in such a manner, a prompt, independent investigation is essential to protect the rights of the deceased and their family. Stefano Formica, Of Counsel at Bond Legal, observed that "It is a somber duty to help a community understand why a tragic crash happened on their streets. Crash reconstructionists use momentum equations to see if cars stuck together or bounced apart after they hit." This legal process helps ensure that all responsible parties are held accountable.
Families of victims in hit-and-run pedestrian accidents face immediate and long-term challenges. They often seek answers about the crash and how to pursue justice for their loved one. The legal framework surrounding such cases involves both criminal prosecution, as seen with Gabryella Liebgott, and civil claims. These civil claims aim to provide financial relief for the family's losses, including funeral costs, medical expenses, and the deep emotional impact of their loss.
Under Minn. Stat. § 573.02, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Minnesota applies modified comparative fault (51% bar), and the statute of limitations is 3 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of companionship and guidance, funeral expenses, and the estate's losses. Laws regarding pedestrian accidents can be complex, and families can pursue justice for their loved one through both criminal and civil avenues.