An unlicensed motorist who ran over and killed a Duluth grandmother last year while she was out photographing the fall colors around sunset will serve more than seven years in prison.

Justin Linskie, 31, of Duluth, was sentenced Monday in St. Louis County District Court, having been found guilty by jurors last month of hit-and-run criminal vehicular homicide in the death of 60-year-old Susan E. Menz.

Linskie struck Menz along Skyline Parkway near the Twin Ponds area on a color-filled early evening in October 2015.

With credit for time in jail since his arrest soon after the incident, Linskie will be eligible for supervised release from prison roughly four years into his 7â…“-year term.

Linskie's car plunged into one of the ponds. Linskie got out of his waterlogged car and ran, leaving Menz floating on the surface, the complaint says.

His license has been revoked since June 2003, when he was caught driving without insurance, according to the state Department of Public Safety.

Linskie has been convicted in Minnesota at least seven times since 2002 for driving while his license was revoked or suspended or simply when not having one.

He has also been convicted of drunken driving, drug possession and receiving stolen property. At the time of the crash, Linskie was supposed to have been attending a drug treatment session.

At the time of the crash, Menz had three grandchildren and another on the way, according to family. She worked for many years with the county as a clerk. Her husband, Rick, was the longtime equipment manager for the University of Minnesota, Duluth, men's hockey team until his retirement.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482