Minneapolis fatal hit-and-run arrest: Teen girl dead after woman drives into crowd
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Minneapolis police say they arrested a woman after she drove the wrong way on a street and crashed into a crowd of people, killing a teenage girl and sending five other victims to the hospital.
What we know
Officers responded to a reported hit-and-run crash at the intersection of 5th Street North and Hennepin Avenue at about 12:23 a.m. Saturday that left one person dead and several others injured.
A 16-year-old girl died from injuries sustained in the crash after she was taken to the hospital.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said in an afternoon press conference that one person remains in critical condition at the hospital, while four other people suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators believe the fatal crash happened after a "physical fight" involving teenagers and other people in the area occurred at the intersection of 5th Street North and Hennepin Avenue. Police say a woman, who was present during the fight, then got inside a vehicle, drove in reverse on Hennepin Avenue and then drove the wrong way on 5th Street North into the crowd of at least a dozen people.
"The video of the incident is absolutely horrific," O'Hara said in the press conference. "There aren't words to describe how tragic and senseless it is to lose a 16-year-old female over something like this."
Witnesses reportedly followed the suspect as she drove out of the downtown area.
Law enforcement then stopped the suspect's vehicle in the 2300 block of Bryant Avenue North.
The 22-year-old woman accused of driving into the crowd was arrested and booked into Hennepin County Jail for murder, police said.
O'Hara says that there's "no question" that the woman was using her vehicle as a weapon.
What we don't know
Police are working to learn the motive of the woman who drove into the crowd, and what led to the fight before the incident.
It is unknown if the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Police say they don't know if the driver and the 16-year-old knew each other.