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Arrests made in hit-and-run death of St. Paul restaurant worker

Jose Hernandez Solano was a married father of three and a grandfather, who was fatally struck the morning of Nov. 26.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Police announced the arrest of two people in the hit-and-run death of a St. Paul restaurant employee killed while biking home from work last month.

Officers arrested a 28-year-old St. Paul man for criminal vehicular homicide Saturday afternoon, and on Friday arrested his mother, a 47-year-old West St. Paul woman for suspicion of aiding an offender. St. Paul Police say she is the owner of the suspect vehicle.

Jose Hernandez Solano was a married father of three and a grandfather, who was fatally struck the morning of Nov. 26 at the intersection of Grand Avenue and West 7th Street while riding his bike home, following a night shift at Brasa Rotisserie, where he worked as a dishwasher.

Credit: Brasa Premium Rotisserie
Hit-and-run victim Jose Hernandez is a popular prep cook and dishwasher at Brasa Rotisserie.

He was a devoted year-round bicyclist. His bike lock still hangs on the bike rack outside the restaurant, where Sunday, the cycling community organized a memorial ride to honor his life and bring attention to creating a safer culture for bicyclists and pedestrians on Twin Cities streets.

The cycling community followed the path Hernandez Solano took that November night, after finishing his shift, heading down Grand Avenue to West Seventh Street where police say a driver hit him after speeding through a red light. Investigators say the same SUV was caught on surveillance video driving erratically through downtown St. Paul moments before.

“We always liked to spend a little time together by the river, there is a little bench over there, for a few minutes, we would talk about life, how beautiful is this life and people. People care,” said David Fernandez, his coworker and bike riding partner.

Fernandez detailed his friend's dedication to safety, always wearing a helmet and gear, using his lights and obeying traffic signals.

“He was an organ donor and the same night he passed away he saved one person’s life, and then two more people. I feel like Jose is going to be around,” said Fernandez.

Now a ghost bike, a bike painted white at the site of the accident, is a somber symbol of loss and what must be gained for safer streets. Cyclists advocated for regional policies to bring more safety for cyclists and pedestrians, hoping their power in numbers prevents a similar death.

“Eight years ago, I was in a horrible bicycle crash and was lucky enough to survive and spent three weeks in the hospital and I wanted to honor Jose,” said Dorian Grilley, executive director of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota. “I didn’t know Jose but feel like I do know him, and it really does choke me up to talk about it.”

Learn more about a fund to help Hernandez Solano’s family here.

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