WEST ST PAUL, Minn. — A man was killed in a crash early Sunday morning after fleeing police in West St. Paul.
Officials said a woman called to report a 35-year-old man threatening people and damaging property inside a home after consuming a "large amount" of alcohol and using drugs. The emergency dispatcher said they could hear a male yelling in the home and what sounded like items being thrown.
In a press release, police later said they saw the man's vehicle headed west on Moreland Avenue in West St. Paul and tried to stop the vehicle and arrest the driver for Domestic Assault and other charges. The driver fled, police said.
A few blocks after police tried to stop the driver, he crossed Robert Street and lost control, striking a power pole and two unoccupied vehicles in a driveway near Moreland Avenue and Kruse Street.
Matthew Pitka was about to sleep, but then he heard police sirens.
“I go outside and I just see the car flying by and then a big flash of light right up in the trees. I thought the car exploded," said Matthew Pitka. “Best way to describe it probably a grenade going off like it was just a loud, boom."
He said the crash happened within five seconds after he saw the cars drive by.
“When I got over here there were probably 11 plus squad cars over here," he said. “That is a lot of damage right there. I’ve never seen such chaos. It ripped a box truck in half almost."
The roof of the homeowner's work truck was ripped and their vehicle was also damaged. The homeowners weren't hurt in the crash.
The man who was driving was thrown from the vehicle. Medics were called, but police said the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
“It’s just a sad day," said Jeff Kerley, who lives across the street.
Kerley was about to go to bed when he heard the crash.
"I heard a loud revving of a motor... and then it revs up again, I hear it really rev up, I hear a small crash, it really revs up, and then I see a bright shine in my window light, windows light up then I heard a loud crash," Kerley said.
Mendota Heights police and the Minnesota State Patrol are investigating the crash.
KARE 11 will update this story as more details are made available.