A 21-year-old man died at the scene of a rollover crash in West St. Paul early Thursday as two others tried to get away in a badly damaged vehicle, police said Friday.
Robert J. Espinoza-Blaeser was left behind as was an injured 17-year-old who was taken by paramedics to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, police said. His name was not released.
The SUV they were riding in was eastbound in the 300 block of E. Bernard Street when it left the roadway and rolled shortly before 2:30 a.m. Thursday.
Two others in the SUV fled in the damaged vehicle but were caught a few blocks away, police said. Espinoza-Blaeser, who lived in West St. Paul, and the injured teen were found at the crash scene.
The driver and an occupant of the SUV were taken to the Dakota County jail Thursday pending possible charges by Dakota County prosecutors.
The State Patrol is assisting West St. Paul police with accident reconstruction as the investigation continues.
JOY POWELL
