2 Forest Lake student-athletes struck by car while crossing Highway 61
FOREST LAKE, Minn. — Two student-athletes were injured after a car struck them Tuesday afternoon in a northern Twin Cities suburb.
A group of Forest Lake Area High School track runners were crossing Highway 61 at the 202nd Street North crosswalk around 3:30 p.m. when two of the students were hit by a Cadillac Deville traveling southbound on the highway, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
Both of the students, 15-year-old boys, were airlifted to the hospital. The boys were identified as Jase Blanchard and Samuel Farinella.
Farinella suffered life-threatening injuries and Blanchard's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, according to the incident report.
The 84-year-old driver of the Cadillac has not been charged for the incident.
Both boys are expected to make a full recovery, according to a spokesperson for Forest Lake Area Schools.
"The families are in good spirits and continue to appreciate the prayers and positive thoughts from our Forest Lake Area Schools community," said Superintendent Steve Massey. "We continue to hold these students and their families in our thoughts and our hearts as they begin the process of recovery."
WCCO reached the driver by phone Wednesday afternoon. He would not comment on the crash but did say he told police everything and told them the truth.