Sheriff: Driver of stolen vehicle flees traffic stop in St. Paul, hits State Patrol car in Minneapolis

The driver of a stolen car fled a traffic stop Friday night in St. Paul before crashing into a Minnesota State Patrol car in Minneapolis, according to the Ramsey County sheriff’s office.

A Ramsey County sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop the stolen Hyundai sedan at about 10:30 p.m. in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul. The driver fled and crossed the Ford Parkway Bridge into Minneapolis before the deputy lost sight of the vehicle and ended the pursuit, according to the sheriff’s office.

The suspect was then observed driving recklessly and ran a stop sign at West 46th Street and Aldrich Avenue South at 80 mph. The vehicle collided with a State Patrol squad car, causing significant injuries to the trooper and passengers in the stolen vehicle, the sheriff’s office said.

The 19-year-old suspect was quickly arrested after attempting to flee on foot. The driver has two prior arrests for fleeing police and is being held at the Ramsey County jail, according to the sheriff’s office.

Police say the same vehicle was involved in a pursuit Thursday night in the west metro, during which it reportedly swerved at emergency vehicles but did not hit them.