Vehicle accidents claim two lives in the Twin Cities area

Vehicle accidents have claimed two lives in the Twin Cities area.

Authorities have identified a woman who was accidentally run over outside a Fleet Farm outlet in her city north of the Twin Cities.

Ruth E. Michael, 88, of Cambridge, was struck by her husband shortly after 11 a.m. on Feb. 18 at the Fleet Farm carwash off Hwy. 95 and east of Hwy. 65, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office said Sunday night.

Michael was taken to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale and died there on Feb. 28, the examiner's office said.

Henry Michael, 87, pulled up to the carwash code machine and was having difficulty entering information, Police Chief Todd Schuster said Monday. Ruth Michael exited the vehicle intending to help him, the chief said.

He backed up and hit the vehicle behind him, then went forward and hit his wife and the vehicle in front, Schuster said.

"It doesn't get more sad," the chief said. "Just trying to get your car washed and then to have a tragic accident."

And authorities said a man who was hit by a vehicle early last week in Maplewood has died. Jordan J. Ciampi, 20, of St. Paul, was walking north and crossing County Road D in Maplewood about 7:35 a.m. on March 4 when an eastbound vehicle with a green light at Southlawn Drive hit him, police said.

Several passersby rendered medical aid before emergency personnel arrived, police said.

Ciampi was taken to Regions Hospital and died Friday, according to police.

A family friend said in a posting on a GoFundMe page that Ciampi was hit while on his way to work.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482