MINNEAPOLIS — Two teens are dead and three others in the hospital Thursday morning after Robbinsdale police say a reportedly stolen SUV crashed in Minneapolis.
The incident first began around 6 p.m. Wednesday night, when a Mercedes SUV was stolen in an armed carjacking near the area of 12th Avenue North and Fremont Avenue in Minneapolis.
A news release from Robbinsdale police says that department was notified of the carjacking on Wednesday, and shortly before 2:30 a.m. Thursday officers on patrol spotted the stolen Mercedes at County Road 81 and Abbott Avenue North in Robbinsdale. Squads attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspects drove away and a high-speed chase ensued.
The pursuit moved from Robbinsdale into northeast Minneapolis, where the driver of the SUV lost control near the intersection of Lowry Avenue and Hayes Street. The crash tore the Mercedes in half, with the two sections landing on opposite ends of the intersection.
Police five people were inside the fleeing SUV, all of them teens. One occupant was declared dead at the scene of the crash, and the other four were taken to nearby hospitals, where Robbinsdale police confirm that a second person died. Robbinsdale police captain John Kaczmarek told KARE 11 that the other three suffered significant injuries but are "up and talking" in the hospital.
"Car jackings have been on the rise, I think everyone knows that, even in the western suburbs we’ve had an increase in car jackings, violent car jackings," said Captain John Kaczmarek with Robbinsdale Police Department. "Obviously we attempt to stop those individuals from preforming those."
Kaczmarek said he did not know what speeds the pursuit reached.
Robbinsdale police say they are working with the State Patrol, Minneapolis police and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office to investigate the fatal crash.
This is a developing story, and KARE 11 will post updates as they become available.