A driver was killed early Monday after his vehicle left Minnehaha Avenue West in St. Paul and crashed into a tree, a retaining wall and a boulder in the 1200 block of the street, authorities said. Emergency crews pulled the driver from the wreckage, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was in the car, and the crash remains under investigation by St. Paul police.
Early-morning Crash On Minnehaha Avenue West
Officers responded to the 1200 block of Minnehaha Avenue West at about 5:17 a.m. A preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle left the roadway and hit a tree, a retaining wall and a boulder, according to the Pioneer Press. St. Paul medics removed the driver from the vehicle, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, the outlet reported.
Investigators’ Initial Findings
St. Paul police said the driver had been traveling west on Minnehaha when the vehicle left the road. The car held only the driver, the Pioneer Press reported. Detectives have not yet determined what caused the crash, and the investigation remains active.
How This Ties Into St. Paul’s Street Safety Debate
The deadly wreck comes amid renewed concern about traffic safety in St. Paul, following recent deadly incidents that neighbors say highlight gaps in crossings and street design. City capital-improvement documents also outline proposals for safety and crossing upgrades on corridors such as Hamline Avenue, part of ongoing efforts to reduce crashes and improve pedestrian safety, according to the City of Saint Paul.
St. Paul police continue to investigate the crash. Additional information was not immediately available.
