A woman was killed and a man severely injured when they were struck by a suspected drunken driver after he drove onto a sidewalk in Columbia Heights, authorities said Friday.
The crash occurred about 10:35 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of Central Avenue and NE. 39th Avenue, the Minnesota State Patrol said.
The patrol said Carrie Lynn Rivero, 58, of Minneapolis died at the scene. James Junior Beller, 63, also of Minneapolis was taken by emergency responders to HCMC with life-threatening injuries, the patrol said.
Beller remained in serious condition, a hospital spokeswoman said Friday afternoon.
Cody John Jazdzewski, 35, of Minneapolis was treated at HCMC for his injuries, then booked Friday morning into the Anoka County jail on suspicion of committing criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular operation while under the influence of alcohol.
According to the patrol:
Jazdzewski was driving a BMW convertible south on Central Avenue when he left the roadway and hit Rivero and Beller. The car came to rest at a tree line.
The patrol said a road wet from rain might have been another factor in the crash.
