Charges expected for speeding driver after pursuit, vehicle fire in Bloomington

A 30-year-old Baudette man was hospitalized and is expected to be charged after leading law enforcement officials on a pursuit and crashing into a state patrol vehicle early Monday in Bloomington.

The Minnesota State Patrol reported that at about 1:15 a.m., a state patrol officer attempted to stop the driver of a Kia Optima for speeding along westbound Interstate 494 near 34th Avenue.

The driver did not stop for the trooper and the pursuit continued to the exit for 34th Avenue, at which point, the trooper discontinued the pursuit due to public safety concerns.

Law enforcement officials then found the vehicle at a dead end along 34th Avenue. When a state patrol officer attempted to box the vehicle in, the driver hit the trooper’s vehicle. The driver continued on and ultimately hit a nearby airport gate in an attempt to flee from officers.

The driver then reportedly started a fire inside the vehicle. He was removed from the vehicle and the fire was extinguished, according to the state patrol.

According to the state patrol, the driver showed signs of impairment and a possible overdose. Troopers administered Narcan and the man was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center with injuries not considered to be life-threatening.

There was a passenger inside the suspect vehicle who was not hurt, the state patrol reported.

The driver is expected to be formally charged upon release from the hospital and there remains an open investigation.