Man Dies After Crashing Into Garage Of Maple Grove Home

MAPLE GROVE, MN — A 76-year-old man died after crashing into a residential garage in Maple Grove, igniting a large fire.

On Oct. 12 at about 11 a.m., Maple Grove police and fire crews responded to the report that a vehicle crashed into the attached garage of a home on the 15000 block of 96th Avenue.

The garage and vehicle "quickly" caught fire while officers tried to extricate the driver who was still trapped inside, police said, adding that "despite the risk to the officers' safety from heavy smoke and fire, three officers were able to get the driver out of the vehicle and render medical aid along with North Manbulance paramedics."

There were no other occupants in the vehicle. The driver was transported to a local hospital, where he died.

Maple Grove fire crews then extinguished the fire.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner will release the man's official cause of death. However, investigators believe the driver may have suffered a medical event before the crash.

Officers were treated and released from the hospital for smoke inhalation and were able to return to work.