A box truck struck a woman at a busy W. Lake Street intersection Wednesday evening, leaving her critically injured at Hennepin County Medical Center.

Officers and paramedics responded to a call shortly at 6:18 p.m. at the corner of W. Lake Street and Market Plaza.

The truck driver had been heading south on Market Plaza, out of a shopping center, when he made a right-hand turn onto Lake Street and the side of the truck struck the woman, said John Elder, a Minneapolis police spokesman.

The truck driver apparently did not see the woman, who was dragged about a quarter of a block, police said.

The woman, whose name, age and condition were not available, had the green light for pedestrians' right of way at the time, he said.

The commercial truck driver, a courier, was distraught and cooperating with police.

A Minneapolis police officer was in a squad car right next to the truck moments before the accident. The squad car was in the left lane and turned left to head east on W. Lake Street. The officer never saw the woman get hit, Elder said.

Firefighter paramedics ran out of a fire station on the corner to help the woman, he said.

JOY POWELL