Woman killed, man critically injured, speeding driver arrested after Robbinsdale crash: "So senseless and so tragic"
ROBBINSDALE, Minn. -- Police are calling a deadly crash in Robbinsdale a tragedy after they say a speeding driver crashed into a minivan, killing a 34-year-old woman and critically injuring her husband.
It was all because the 20-year-old Minneapolis man was trying to avoid a ticket, according to police.
Like a lightning strike right outside his door, it's what drew Landon Casserly outside, to start recording on his phone.
"We saw this Tesla, you couldn't even really tell, it was a Tesla hood indented fully," Casserly said.
According to Robbinsdale police, it all started on 42nd Avenue North near Highway 100 at 8:15 p.m. Saturday night. An officer spotted a white Tesla going 55 mph on the 30 mph road.
The officer followed, eventually turning on lights and sirens. Police said the driver of the Tesla took off and the officer ended the chase just blocks away from the crash.
"The suspect vehicle crossed 36th Avenue North at a very high rate of speed, striking a vehicle traveling on 36th," said Capt. John Elder with the Robbinsdale Police Department.
Police said the suspect was going between 70 and 90 mph when he crashed into an unsuspecting couple.
A 34-year-old woman was killed. Her husband, also in the car, was taken to the hospital in critical condition. An online fundraiser has been started for the woman's funeral costs, husband's medical costs and care for their two children.
The suspect is expected to survive and is being held on probable cause for criminal vehicular operation.
"You look at the tragedy that this truly is, and is this over a speeding ticket?" Elder said. "It's mindboggling to all of us, to everybody who was on the scene that dealt not only with the victims, but the victims' families. All over a speeding ticket. It is so senseless and so tragic and so many lives have been changed forever because of one person's decision."
Robbinsdale Capt. John Elder says a female died, husband is in very critical condition after Robbinsdale crash. Suspect in custody is a 20 year old male who sustained non-life threatening injuries @WCCO pic.twitter.com/WevzIjLBdn
— Jason Rantala (@jarantala) July 9, 2023
Elder is defending the officer, both for starting the chase and then quickly ending it. He said the officer stopped the chase after one block.
"The fact of the matter is they did have a valid probable cause to stop the vehicle and the officer was merely doing his job and doing it well," said Elder. "I also support this officer's decision to terminate that."
"It could have been any one of us standing at that block right there," said Casserly. "We all live around here."
Casserly is still processing what happened right outside his home.
"Sad day, rest in peace to the families. Hope everything gets better, hope he gets time," said Casserly.
Brittany Fishbaugher lives near the crash site and stopped with her family on their way home to see what was going on. She saw the woman being pulled from her car and receiving CPR.
"I kind of ran back to my car in tears," Fishbaugher said. "It was kind of devastating and really sad. It was a completely avoidable accident that just should not have ever happened. That woman did not deserve to lose her life."