Fatal weekend crash in West St. Paul investigated

Last update: November 2, 2009 - 8:29 PM

Authorities said Monday that it's too early to say whether charges will be brought in connection with a crash Saturday night in West St. Paul that resulted in the death of a 26-year-old St. Paul woman.

Leslie J. Garcia was thrown from the vehicle she was riding in when it was broadsided about 9 p.m. Saturday as it pulled out of a shopping mall parking lot onto Robert Street and into the path of a northbound car, which broadsided it on the driver's side. She died Sunday.

Another passenger, Jorge Zuniga, 26, of Columbia Heights, also was thrown from the car and suffered nonlife-threatening injuries, the State Patrol said. Passenger Kimberly Fuentes, 8, of St. Paul, suffered a ruptured spleen. Garcia, Zuniga and Fuentes were not wearing seat belts.

The driver, Fabio Dierings, 23, of St. Paul, and passenger Breidy Garcia, 19, of St. Paul, were wearing seat belts, and reported suffering back pain, according to the patrol.

The driver of the other car, Lynette Landrum, who was wearing a seat belt, was not injured, the patrol said. Everyone was transported to Regions Hospital.

No alcohol was detected on any of the drivers.

Capt. Matt Langer of the State Patrol said it could take three weeks to three months to complete the investigation and to present a report to the city or county attorney's office for possible charges.

CHAO XIONG AND Pat Pheifer

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