Officials ID motorist killed in Twin Cities collision with unlicensed driver fleeing police

Officials on Thursday identified the man who died in a collision in Maplewood with a domestic assault suspect who was fleeing police.

Apostle L, 61, of St. Paul died from injuries suffered in the crash on Dec. 13 at Edgerton Street and Bellwood Avenue in Maplewood, the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office said. Court records show he changed his name from Loel Charles in 2018.

Nicholas John Price, 37, of Roseville was arrested and remains jailed in lieu of $500,000 bail after being charged with causing a death while fleeing police and criminal vehicular homicide in connection. He’s due back in court on Jan. 6.

Price was driving at the time after his license had been revoked, the state Department of Public Safety said Monday.

Prosecutors also charged Price on Monday with threats of violence and domestic assault stemming from a former girlfriend’s allegations.

According to the criminal complaints and the Sheriff’s Office:

A 29-year-old woman called 911 and said she was at Price’s home, where her former boyfriend threatened to set her on fire, grabbed her by the throat, shoved her head into a wall and pushed her down some steps.

Price, who suffered a broken leg in the crash, was arrested at the scene. Emergency responders took L to a hospital, where he died.

Video from a vehicle at the intersection showed the car on northbound Edgerton and turning left onto Bellwood. Price hit the car while speeding south on Edgerton.

Price told a sheriff’s investigator that his former girlfriend moved out of his home the day before and returned to speak with him on Friday. He said she accused him of cheating on her. Price said he tried to leave, but she was in his way, “so he moved her with an open hand,” one complaint read. He accused her of lying about him hitting her.

Price estimated that he was driving 80 to 90 miles per hour just before impact.

Price said he had taken oxycodone that belonged to his former girlfriend and smoked marijuana on the day of the crash. Law enforcement collected a blood sample from Price to have it tested for illicit drugs.