A late night at a Minneapolis light rail stop turned violent when a Jeep Liberty left the street, hit a pedestrian and came to rest on the Franklin Avenue station platform, leaving the man with life threatening injuries, police say.
According to Minneapolis police, officers were called to the Franklin Avenue station shortly after 1:30 a.m., where they found a man near the platform suffering from life-threatening injuries. Investigators say the Jeep had gone off the roadway, struck the pedestrian, then crashed onto the station platform. A man believed to be the driver was not at the scene when officers first arrived, but later returned and was arrested on suspicion of criminal vehicular operation.
KSTP reports officers were dispatched to 1808 Franklin Avenue East at about 1:33 a.m. The outlet notes the Jeep hit the man before plowing into the center platform at the Franklin Avenue station, and that the driver initially left before coming back and being taken into custody. Police have not released the names of those involved as the investigation continues.
The Franklin Avenue stop, located at 1808 Franklin Avenue East, is an above-grade, island platform station on the METRO Blue Line, according to Wikipedia. The platform sits over Franklin Avenue and has figured into broader transit safety and renovation planning in recent years.
What does criminal vehicular operation can mean
Under Minnesota law, drivers can face a criminal vehicular operation charge when a vehicle causes bodily harm or death because of gross negligence, impairment, or other serious aggravating factors. Penalties vary by degree and can include fines and prison time. Leaving the scene after causing injury can also elevate the offense, according to Minnesota Statutes.
The Metropolitan Council has discussed a Franklin Station renovation as part of larger Blue Line upgrades, and Metro Transit has rolled out additional security measures at several stations in recent years to address rider safety, according to council records and meeting agendas. Those efforts are part of an ongoing push to improve infrastructure and safety along the Blue Line.
Minneapolis police say the investigation remains active and have not released further details, including the identities of the driver and victim. KSTP reports the driver is in custody on suspicion of criminal vehicular operation as investigators work to determine exactly how the crash unfolded.
