CHASKA, Minn. — Authorities have identified the driver of a vehicle that fled police at a high rate of speed in Chaska Tuesday night, triggering a violent six-vehicle crash that claimed his life and injured several others.
The Minnesota State Patrol says 40-year-old James Charles Erickson of St. Paul was the fleeing driver, who collided with a handful of vehicles when he attempted to exit from Highway 212 to Highway 41.
The incident began when police received a number of complaints about an individual swerving on the road at dangerous speeds. When officers caught up with the vehicle the suspect, now identified as Erickson, accelerated and continued eastbound on US 212 near Co. Rd. 53 in Cologne.
The chase inevitably made its way to northbound MN 41, where the fleeing motorist caused a crash involving 6 other vehicles.
Erickson suffered fatal injuries in the crash, and State Patrol investigators say he was not wearing a seat belt. Five other motorists were hurt, but their injuries are all thought to be non-life threatening.
The incident caused the shutdown of an extremely busy stretch of northbound MN 41 between Canyon Road and US 212 near Chaska just before 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Minnesota State Patrol is currently investigating this incident, and attempting to determine why Erickson fled from police.