A 27-year-old Blaine man faces charges of criminal vehicular homicide in the hit-and-run death of a local resident who was struck while picking up his mail.
Blaine man is charged in fatal sidewalk hit-and-run
May 7, 2016 at 6:03AM
Adam Joseph Rodman was arrested shortly after the fatality, which occurred at about 9:20 p.m. Thursday. Police said it's believed that alcohol played a role.
According to a criminal complaint filed Friday, Rodman was driving at more than 60 miles per hour in the 2200 block of 119th Avenue in Blaine, a residential area. He struck another car and then hit a 39-year-old man standing on the sidewalk by his mailbox, throwing the victim more than 100 feet from where he was struck. The victim's name has not been released.
Rodman fled the scene, according to the complaint, and was found at his nearby home by police who followed a trail of oil and debris. His car was in the garage, heavily damaged.
An affidavit by a police detective said Rodman was found in his bedroom. "Mr. Rodman smelled strongly of alcohol and appeared to be heavily intoxicated," the complaint said. "He had scrapes on his face and neck consistent with being struck by broken glass."
Rodman was booked into the Anoka County jail, charged with three counts of criminal vehicular homicide and one count of traffic collision. Bail was set at $300,000.
"This was a very tragic event perpetrated by this individual, who had no regard for the well-being or safety of others," Blaine Police Chief Chris Olson said Friday.
The street has commonly been used as a shortcut, said local residents, who have urged the city to install a stop sign or speed bumps.
"We have asked the city more times than I can count to do something about the excessive speed on our road, to no avail — and someone died because of their negligence," said Matt DePoint. "We have so many little kids in our neighborhood, and a park. Next time this happens it will very likely be one of them."
DePoint said the neighborhood had called a community meeting for Friday night to discuss how residents can support the victim's family and make safety changes.
John Reinan • 612-673-7402
The pilot was the only person inside the plane, and was not injured in the emergency landing, according to the State Patrol.
