2 Pedestrians Killed In Separate Blaine Crashes Minutes Apart

BLAINE, MN — Two pedestrians were killed Saturday night in separate crashes in Blaine, both at intersections along 125th Avenue NE and within about 20 minutes of each other, authorities said.

The first call came in around 7:17 p.m., when Blaine police were sent to Lexington Avenue NE and 125th Avenue NE after someone reported a person walking in traffic. A woman was hit by a pickup truck shortly before an officer got there.

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Investigators' early findings show the pickup's driver, an adult man, was heading south on Lexington when he struck the woman, who was walking in a traffic lane. Life-saving measures were attempted at the scene, and she was taken to a hospital, where she died.

Around 7:36 p.m., police, firefighters and paramedics were called to Central Avenue NE and 125th Avenue NE for another pedestrian who had been hit.

In that crash, a man driving a minivan north on Central struck a man who had walked into the roadway, according to preliminary information. He was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts.

Authorities said both drivers are cooperating.

Neither victim has been publicly identified.

The crashes came about a week after clocks fell back an hour, at a time of year when Minnesota transportation officials have long warned that walking near traffic gets riskier. With the sun setting earlier, more people are out on foot after dark, when drivers have a harder time seeing them.

October has historically ranked among the deadliest months for pedestrians in Minnesota, as earlier sunsets add more hours of darkness.

Pedestrian deaths have also been climbing statewide. Minnesota recorded 56 pedestrian deaths in 2024, a 25 percent jump from the year before, according to the state Office of Traffic Safety.

Blaine police, the Minnesota State Patrol and the Anoka County Sheriff's Office are investigating both crashes. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office is handling the woman's death, while the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office is handling the man's.

The Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View Fire Department and Allina EMS also responded to both scenes.

Authorities said no further information would be released for now.