A man who was rescued from his burning car last week after crashing off a freeway in Minnetonka died Monday of severe burns, officials said.
Nathaniel Cornely, 23, of Bloomington, was pulled out of his car Thursday night by motorists who had seen his car on fire as it raced past on eastbound Interstate 394 at speeds up to 100 miles per hour.
Cornely was engulfed in flames, and the occupants of the other vehicle -- boyhood friends in town for a wedding -- used their shirts to put out the fire. They said Cornely was wedged below the steering wheel and gestured to them for help.
He was brought to Hennepin County Medical Center with injuries that the State Patrol characterized as life-threatening. He died there after being taken off life support.
At the time of the crash, Cornely was the subject of an alert put out by Bloomington police for probable cause hit-and-run and assault.
Earlier Thursday evening, Cornely's ex-girlfriend told Bloomington police that he rear-ended her vehicle as she and a friend moved out of their apartment. She told police that after they stepped out of their car, Cornely turned his car around and sped toward them before driving off.
Minneapolis police also said they were seeking him for another incident that evening. Details were unavailable.
KEVIN DUCHSCHERE
