MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) – A bicyclist who was the victim of an early morning hit-and-run in Minneapolis has died, and the driver has been arrested.
Minneapolis Police Sgt. Bill Palmer they responded about 2:15 a.m. Saturday to a report of an injury accident. Those who called 911 reported the victim, 28-year-old Elyse Mary Stern, was severely injured and the involved vehicle had fled.
“When officers got to the scene, very quickly it was determined that the female bicyclist who’d been involved in the accident was deceased,” Palmer said.
Witnesses provided a description of the vehicle, which officers found a few minutes later. Police say that Stern was heading east on Lake Street, while the driver of the car was traveling westbound – and somehow their paths crossed. He drove off, but not before someone got a good look at the car.
“The vehicle was described as having heavy damage was described as a green Monte Carlo, and we did find that vehicle,” he said.
Police found the car within ten minutes near Franklin Avenue East and Bloomington Avenue South. They arrested 27-year-old Juan Ricardo Hernandez-Campoceco.
“The driver, who did show signs of intoxication, was arrested and processed for DWI,” he said.
Hernandez-Campoceco was being held Saturday on tentative charges, including driving while intoxicated and criminal vehicular operation. It’s possible he didn’t see Stern.
“I can share with you however that she was not wearing a helmet and that her bicycle did not appear to be equipped with lighting equipment,” he said.
Palmer said this tragedy serves as a lesson for all cyclists to be proactive with their safety, especially when biking at night.
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