UPDATE: Pedestrian dies following crash along Hwy 65 in Columbia Heights

Rebecca Omastiak

[anvplayer video=”4960131″ station=”998122″]

A pedestrian has died following a crash along Highway 65 in Columbia Heights Wednesday morning.

According to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, at about 6:27 a.m., Columbia Heights police and an Allina ambulance responded to the intersection of Central Avenue NE/Highway 65 and 44th Avenue NE, where the crash took place.

Officers who conducted a preliminary investigation said a 65-year-old man was using the crosswalk to cross 44th Avenue when he was struck by a Ford Ranger. The 29-year-old driver of the Ford Ranger was traveling south on Central Avenue NE/Highway 65 at the time of the crash.

Officers said, at the time of the crash, pedestrian signage on 44th Avenue was indicating to pedestrians not to cross.

The 65-year-old man was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.

[KSTP-TV]

Alcohol did not appear to be a factor in the crash, officials said, and the driver of the Ford Ranger was not taken into custody.

The Columbia Heights Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office are continuing the investigation and stated no additional information would be released at this time.

An earlier version of this report appears below:

A portion of Highway 65 in Columbia Heights has reopened Wednesday following a crash involving a pedestrian earlier in the morning.

KSTP Traffic Reporter Josie Smith said the highway reopened around 9:15 a.m.

Smith said the serious crash involving a pedestrian occurred on the southbound side of the highway, at 44th Avenue.

Additional information on the crash has not yet been made available.