Isanti man charged in collision of vehicles on I-35W in Blaine

Article by: Star Tribune
Updated: August 20, 2008 - 11:44 PM

Driver charged with fleeing police, leaving scene of accident in Blaine.

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A motorist who was allegedly high on drugs when he rear-ended another vehicle on Interstate 35W Sunday night in Blaine has been charged with three counts of criminal vehicular operation along with fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident. According to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Anoka County District Court, Dal Rondeau, 44, of Isanti, Minn., told officers that he had consumed "several eight balls of cocaine" before he hit a Ford Taurus carrying three people about 6:30 p.m. as he drove north on I-35W near 95th Avenue at speeds close to 100 miles per hour. The impact sent the Taurus into the median, where it rolled over, the criminal complaint said.

Rondeau did not stop. He then sideswiped a marked Blaine squad car that had been stopped at a traffic light at 109th and Lexington Avenues N. The suspect hit the squad car on the driver's side and continued north on Lexington Avenue, police said.

Rondeau led the officer on a short chase along Lexington Avenue despite having two blown tires. When the officer stopped him, the indictment says that he said, "I hit somebody hard up there on 35. I hope they're all right."

The officer whose squad car was sideswiped was treated for minor injuries, police said.

The three people in the Taurus were injured and taken to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. None suffered life-threatening injuries.

TIM HARLOW