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Rupa Shenoy
St. Paul, Minn.

Three dead after pursued driver crashes into vehicle

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A 29-year-old Fridley woman and her two sons are dead after their car was broadsided by a man fleeing a Minnesota State Patrol officer.

They were identified as Amanda Jean Thomas, 29, of Fridley, her 12-year-old son, Andre, and her 3-month-old son Akeron. The woman and the 12-year-old died at the scene, while the infant died a short time later.

Patrol officials say the trooper saw the man driving erratically on Interstate 94 in north Minneapolis at about 12:45 a.m. Sunday. The 29-year-old Edina man was driving a car that had been reported as stolen.

Patrol spokesman Lt. Eric Roeske said the driver took an exit and accelerated, gaining a two-block lead over the pursuing officer. In the intersection of 2nd Street N. and W. Broadway Avenue, the man broadsided the victim's car.

"This is a horrible situation and a horrible tragedy," Roeske added.

Roeske said the man fled on foot and was apprehended within 12 minutes.

"He was a suspect in the theft of this vehicle and evidence on him, eyewitnesses, as well as a track of police dogs all led us to him to confirm he was the driver," Roeske said.

Roeske said the pursuing officer was driving carefully and slowing down at intersections.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)