North St. Paul boy's death called 'senseless tragedy'

A 13-year-old North St. Paul boy who was killed trying to run across Hwy. 36 was not far from a pedestrian path.

By Anthony Lonetree, Star Tribune

Last update: September 13, 2007 - 9:42 PM

A 13-year-old North St. Paul boy who died after being struck by a pickup truck on Hwy. 36 was less than 100 yards from a pedestrian path that runs safely under the highway, a state transportation spokesman said Thursday.

But rather than make his way to the path, and then to the other side of Hwy. 36, Joseph J. Wright tried running across the busy highway, and was struck and killed Wednesday, authorities said. "Just a senseless tragedy," Kent Barnard, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), said Thursday.

Community leaders, high school students and others held a moment of silence for Wright on Thursday morning during an event to mark the opening of a pedestrian bridge near North High School -- about a half-mile from the accident site.

According to the State Patrol, Wright was with his younger brother when he tried to cross the highway near McKnight Road about 5:30 p.m. His brother chose not to follow and was not hurt, authorities said.

The driver of the truck, James J. Ryan, 46, of Oakdale, was not charged or cited with any traffic violations, the State Patrol said.

The accident is under investigation, Lt. Mark Peterson said Thursday.

Hwy. 36 is in the midst of a major reconstruction that has included the removal of an at-grade intersection at McKnight Road. Before, motorists and pedestrians waited at traffic lights to cross the highway. Now, they move safely under it.

Highway traffic, meanwhile, runs unimpeded from Century Avenue to English Street, including the area where the accident occurred.

During the summer, Hwy. 36 was closed for reconstruction, but it reopened Aug. 31 to a single lane of traffic in each direction between Century and White Bear Avenues.

The reconstruction project is scheduled to be completed next fall.

Anthony Lonetree • 651-298-1545

Anthony Lonetree • alonetree@startribune.com

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