Ramsey County squad crash in St. Paul kills driver
A Ramsey County sheriff’s deputy responding to a stolen‑vehicle call Tuesday night crashed into another car at Robert Street and 12th Street East in St. Paul, killing that vehicle’s driver and injuring two passengers. The deputy, who had lights and siren activated, was headed to assist after St. Paul police chased a stolen car from Seventh Street East and Maria Avenue onto I‑94, where a State Patrol trooper disabled it with a PIT maneuver and arrested the 27‑year‑old driver. The deputy and three occupants of the struck vehicle were taken to a hospital; the driver later died, one passenger remains in serious condition and the other has non‑life‑threatening injuries, while the deputy was reported unhurt. The Minnesota State Patrol has taken over the investigation into the crash and the events leading up to it, including how the emergency response was conducted through downtown streets. The case is likely to renew scrutiny of high‑speed responses and pursuits in dense St. Paul neighborhoods, where residents have already voiced concerns about officers and deputies racing through intersections.
📌 Key Facts
- Crash happened around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday at Robert St. and 12th St. E. in St. Paul
- Ramsey County deputy with lights and siren on collided with another vehicle while responding to a stolen‑vehicle incident
- Driver of the civilian vehicle died; one passenger is in serious condition, another has non‑life‑threatening injuries
- St. Paul police pursuit of a Minneapolis‑stolen vehicle ended on I‑94 after a State Patrol PIT; 27‑year‑old fleeing driver was arrested
- Minnesota State Patrol is investigating the squad‑involved fatal crash
📊 Relevant Data
In Minnesota in 2022, Black people were arrested for property crimes at a rate 4.6 times higher than White people.
Minnesota Criminal Justice Data Snapshot — Justice Reinvestment Initiative
Motor vehicle theft in Minnesota decreased by 19.3 percent in 2024, with 12,596 vehicles stolen compared to 15,612 in 2023.
BCA releases 2024 Uniform Crime Report — Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Between 2017 and 2022, at least 3,336 people died in police pursuits in the United States, with the majority being passengers or bystanders rather than the fleeing drivers.
Majority of people killed in police chases aren't the fleeing drivers — San Francisco Chronicle
African Americans and Latinos are killed at a disproportionately higher rate during police pursuits in the United States.
The Health Divide: The unequal and deadly toll of police chases — Center for Health Journalism
In St. Paul, Minnesota, the racial composition as of 2025 is approximately 51.51% White, 17.9% Asian, 15.84% Black, and 4.32% other races.
St. Paul, Minnesota Population 2026 — World Population Review
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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