ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — Two people were killed in an Arden Hills crash after they were struck by a car driven by someone who had alcohol in their system, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
Officials said the fatal crash occurred on Friday as 76-year-old Curtis O'Connor was merging onto I-694 with 74-year-old passenger Karin O'Connor. Both succumbed to their injuries.
The Minnesota State Patrol said the three-vehicle crash occurred at around 8:45 a.m. Friday near the Snelling Avenue exit.
One of the vehicles, a Chevrolet Equinox, was traveling westbound on I-694 when it swerved from the right lane to the left shoulder. The crash report says the driver over-corrected the vehicle, causing it to spin out, cross through a ditch and collide with the Chevy Malibu being driven by Oconnor that was merging onto the interstate. MSP officials said after getting hit, the Malibu went sideways into the left lane on I-694, and was hit broadside by a semi.
Officials say the driver of the Equinox, who they believe had alcohol in their system, and the semi driver were transported to Regions Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Tom Wiener is a friend of the family and knew Curtis when he was an employee of his.
"We were always good friends, it didn't matter retirement or not," Wiener said. "Close a friend as I really got, I mean, he was there all the time, if you ever needed anything Curt was there."
Part of their friendship involved weekly walks that Wiener and Curtis took every Sunday morning. In recent years, Curtis' son, Jason, joined.
"It just became a habit that we all knew we had," Wiener said. "We're gonna meet in the morning and have our walk and then have our coffee."
Those walks are now missing their third – Wiener says he still plans on walking this Sunday morning with Jason, knowing those emotions will catch up to him then.
"I would strive to be like Curt," Wiener said. "I know I'll never achieve that, he was that good of a guy."
*This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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