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3 killed in chase, crash near Matt's Bar in south Mpls.

The wreckage was in front of Matt's Bar at the intersection of East 35th Street and Cedar Avenue South.

MINNEAPOLIS - The State Patrol says three people were killed when a driver fleeing troopers hit another vehicle early Sunday morning in south Minneapolis.

The wreckage was in front of Matt's Bar at the intersection of East 35th Street and Cedar Avenue South.

According to the State Patrol, a trooper spotted a stolen silver Ford Escape going east near the Interstate 94 tunnel around 1:15 a.m.

The driver exited on Highway 55, then onto Cedar Avenue.

Troopers attempted to stop the Ford on the ramp leading to Cedar, but the driver escaped.

The chase was stopped after four blocks when a state patrol helicopter began tracking the Ford, according to the State Patrol.

The Escape continued on Cedar Avenue, crashing into another vehicle at 35th Street. Three adults in the other vehicle died in the crash. The driver of the Escape and four passengers were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center.

The three victims are identified as Sheryl Carpentier, 65, her husband, Kenneth Carpentier, 64, and their friend Kimberly Gunderson, 48.

According to the state patrol, Kenneth was the designated driver taking Kimberly home after a neighborhood reunion party when his truck was struck by the SUV.

Family says the Mustang-driving, free-spirited Sheryl was the biggest Beatles fan around. She was recently retired and visiting Minneapolis with her husband from their winter home in Arizona. They are survived by three children and two grandchildren.

Gunderson was described as an animal lover and dear friend by those visiting the crash scene.

The driver of the stolen vehicle is an 18-year-old man on probation from a burglary conviction as a juvenile. He is in police custody at HCMC.

The four passengers of the SUV were all juveniles ranging in age from 13 to 16 years old, according to the state patrol. None of the passengers were wearing seat belts. Their conditions are unclear as of Sunday night.

A GoFundMe page has been set up by the families of the Carpentiers and Gunderson.

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