A 56-year-old Oakdale man died early Friday when his car rear-ended a pickup in Maplewood, hit a guardrail and landed on its roof, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

J. Buyamah Cooke was driving a 2003 Ford Focus west on Hwy. 36 near Arcade Street just before 6 a.m. when he hit a 2008 Ford pickup driven by Klaw Reh, 39, of North St. Paul. The Ford then hit a guardrail and came to rest on its roof in the right lane.

Cooke died at the scene. Reh was not hurt. Both drivers were wearing seat belts, the patrol said.

The westbound lanes of Hwy. 36 were closed for more than four hours after the crash.

STAFF REPORT