2 people struck by vehicle, killed on St. Paul-Roseville border

A man and a woman were struck and killed by an oncoming vehicle Thursday as they crossed a busy roadway in Roseville, police said.

The crash occurred during the evening rush hour at the intersection of Larpenteur Avenue W. and Woodbridge Court.

A car traveling west on Larpenteur — a thoroughfare that marks the border between Roseville to the north and St. Paul to the south — struck the pedestrians about 5:30 p.m., killing them on impact. Roseville Police Chief Rick Mathwig said it was not clear whether the two victims were known to each other or walking separately.

The driver of the car that hit them, a man in his 70s, stopped and cooperated with police, Mathwig said. Late Thursday, he was being interviewed by detectives, who are investigating whether alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

Authorities applied for a search warrant to obtain a blood sample from the driver, which would be submitted to the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for testing.

Mathwig declined to provide details about the type of vehicle involved in the crash or from what angle it struck the pedestrians. However, a blue GMC pickup truck with severe front-end damage could be seen behind the police tape near the victims' covered bodies. Investigators covered the vehicle's license plate with a white sheet.

Residents of the apartment buildings near the crash site stood nearby watching on the unseasonably mild night.

Larpenteur remained closed for several hours as police conducted their investigation. Just before 10 p.m., Roseville police tweeted that it had been reopened and added, "Please travel safely and give your loved ones an extra hug tonight. Life can change at the blink of an eye."

Police are asking any motorists who were heading west on Larpenteur during that time or anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call them at 651-767-0640. They believe a second vehicle that did not strike the victims might have been close enough for a driver or passengers to have seen what happened.