Fatal car accident in Maplewood

A Maplewood man was arrested Friday night after causing a fatal crash while fleeing from officers following reports of a domestic assault, according to the Ramsey County sheriff’s office.

The man was arrested by Ramsey County deputies after the crash at 10:30 p.m. near Forest Lawn Cemetery in Maplewood. Before the crash, the man physically assaulted his ex-girlfriend and threatened to set her on fire, the sheriff’s office said.

Roseville officers attempted to stop his vehicle near the intersection of County Road C East and Rice Street, but he sped away. As he continued to drive toward Maplewood, officers then called for assistance from other agencies.

A Ramsey County sheriff’s deputy saw the car speeding southbound on Edgerton Street and attempted to catch up with it for a mile.

The man was driving so fast that officers couldn’t see the car, according to Ramsey County officials, and the nearest officer was eight seconds behind him. The man later told investigators he did not know he was still being followed by police at the time of the crash, according to officials.

As the deputy followed the man with a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter overhead, he crashed into a car turning left at the intersection of Bellwood Avenue and Edgerton Street.

The victim was transported to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead after suffering cardiac arrest. The fleeing driver was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital for treatment of injuries.

The man has been arrested or charged 38 times in the past 14 years by eight different agencies for crimes including unlawfully carrying a firearm, burglary, domestic violence, fleeing police in a motor vehicle and driving under the influence, according to the sheriff’s office. He is currently in custody pending multiple charges, including criminal vehicular manslaughter.