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Apple Valley cops find car suspected in hit-run; family decides to end life support

Apple Valley police found the vehicle in Lakeville near the scene where Joan LeVasseur was critically injured.

By PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune

Last update: March 12, 2009 - 9:21 PM

Police in Apple Valley say this afternoon that they suspect they have recovered the vehicle that struck and critically injured a woman in an intersection crosswalk before the driver fled the scene.

Also, the family of Joan LeVasseur, 26, of Apple Valley, said it has decided to remove her from life support.

The vehicle, a 2003 Ford Focus, was found in a resident's garage in Lakeville with "front-end damage consistent with a pedestrian accident," said Capt. Jon Rechtzigel. The home is a little more than a mile south of where LeVasseur was hit.

Rechtzigel said the people who live at that home, in the 16000 block of Glengary Court, are not talking to police and have secured an attorney. He said the vehicle and the residents are "closely associated," but he declined to elaborate.

"We are working behind the scenes" to try to solve this case, the captain said.

He said a tip from the public led police to the car.

The vehicle is in the possession of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in St. Paul for examination in the hopes that investigators can confirm that it is the one that struck LeVasseur as she crossed Cedar Avenue at 153rd Street about 9 p.m. Friday.

In an entry Wednesday on a CaringBridge journal Web page, LeVasseur's family members said they came to the decision about ending life support "with heavy hearts."

After consulting with doctors at Hennepin County Medical Center, "they have sadly told us that there is no sign of a meaningful recovery for Joan," the Web page entry said. "They have all but said she has no chance, and that we need to decide what Joan would want! We believe that Joan would not want to live a life that would not allow her to be her beautiful, loving, smiling, caring self.

Family members said she suffered severe head trauma, brain injuries and fractures in her legs and pelvis. LeVasseur, who is engaged to be married, was walking to Cub Foods when the accident occurred.

Anyone with information should call police at 952-953-2700 or the Dakota County Communication Center at 651-322-2323.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

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