MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police say the two teens struck by a suspected carjacker on Lake Street on Monday are expected to survive.
The driver also struck a building, and injured at least three others while driving erratically Monday afternoon.
The teens are siblings, identified on social media by their father and to KARE 11 by a neighbor as Cecilia and Jacob Speranzella.
"My son is alert. Fractured ankle and vertebrae in his back. Lots of cuts and stitches. My daughter has had a traumatic brain injury and is not responding. She's had two surgeries so far. Please pray for them," Joseph Speranzella wrote yesterday.
An HCMC spokesperson told KARE 11 that 19-year-old Cecilia is in critical condition and Jacob is in serious condition.
The driver is in jail on pending charges of DWI causing injury and robbery. A crash report says he carjacked a driver to gain control of the vehicle.
The driver has a long criminal history including convictions for assault, burglary, theft and many other charges.
According to police spokesperson John Elder, an officer first approached an animated group of people who told him a car was driving erratically down 17th Avenue South at East 26th Street at 2:16 p.m.
The officer followed the suspect and encountered a vehicle sitting sideways in the road. It turned out it was a parked car struck by the suspect. The officer continued southbound down 17th Avenue South, where he came across a "substantial crash." Police believe the suspect then saw the squad car, made a turn and attempted to ram the officer.
The driver made contact with the squad car and went on to drive eastbound in the westbound lanes of Lake Street. The suspected carjacker then hit a light pole and curb, causing the vehicle to stop abruptly and start on fire.
Police say the suspect refused to exit the vehicle despite it being on fire. Officers were finally able to get him out of the car and took him into custody.
Officers didn't realize at the time that two teens had been struck by the vehicle on 17th Avenue South and East Lake Street. Their injuries were described as critical, but Elder said Tuesday they are expected to survive.
Two others were also injured in the chaos, as was the suspect.