Family of woman, 70, killed in St. Paul hit-and-rush crash asks anyone with tips to come forward

Mara H. Gottfried, Pioneer Press
·2 min read

The family of Phoua Thao Hang — a 70-year-old who they say embodied goodness and believed that people possess it — is asking anyone with information about the St. Paul hit-and-run crash that killed her to come forward.

The St. Paul resident “was senselessly killed when a stolen vehicle rammed into her car in St. Paul,” the family said in a Wednesday statement. The driver and passengers ran away and, as of Wednesday afternoon, had not been found.

Hang’s grandson is Rep. Jay Xiong, DFL-St. Paul. Her daughter and son, Pakou Hang and Janssen Hang, founded the Hmong American Farmers Association.

“To say that Mrs. Hang was an incredible individual would be an understatement,” said St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. “She was a precious soul. You can see that in her family. You can see that in her children and grandchildren. … Anybody who spent time at the St. Paul Farmers’ Market could see that in the joy that she put into the produce that she shared in those spaces.”

Phoua Hang was heading back from the family’s garden on Sunday night. Her husband of 50 years was driving at the time of the crash in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood. Police initially reported that Hang was driving, but they and her family said Wednesday that she was the passenger.

“Phoua Thao Hang was the singular most important person in our lives,” the Hang family said. “The light has gone out of our world.” The statement was read by Gail Chang Bohr, a senior judge for the state who was speaking in a personal capacity. She knew Phoua for more than 30 years and considered her as a sister.

Police are asking anyone with information to call them at 651-266-5656.

Family members gathered Wednesday to make the statement “to seek justice for the death of my grandmother,” Xiong said. Hang’s husband has been overcome by grief and wasn’t able to attend the press conference.

“If you were one of the people directly involved, please turn yourself in to the police,” Bohr said. “If you know someone who was directed involved, share this information with the police. It is never too late to do the right thing.”

Officers have reconstructed the crash scene, interviewed witnesses, reviewed video and collected samples for DNA evidence, Interim Police Chief Jeremy Ellison said Wednesday.

Carter said he knows investigators will follow every lead to hold people accountable, but he added the police department “cannot do that work on their own.”

“There is someone who knows something that can help … us understand what happened and hold those responsible … for the pain that they’ve inflicted on our community family,” Carter said.

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