A 29-year-old man died Monday from injuries he suffered when a Metro Transit Green Line train hit his car Saturday night in St. Paul, authorities said.
Driver dies after weekend crash with light-rail train in St. Paul
Witnesses have said they believe Nicholas Westlake had the right of way with a green traffic light. Metro Transit is investigating.
July 20, 2017 at 3:33AM
The victim was identified as Nicholas Redlin Westlake of St. Paul, who was driving the car. His passenger, Neli Petkova, was not seriously injured.
The collision happened just after 9 p.m. Saturday at Eustis Street and University Avenue.
Witnesses said they believe Westlake had the right of way with a green light. He was driving south on Eustis Street when he was hit by a westbound light rail train driven by Abdellatif El Maarouf, a 12-year Metro Transit employee.
Westlake had to be extracted from his vehicle. He was taken to Regions Hospital, where he died Monday. Petkova was treated at the hospital and released.
Investigators are reconstructing the crash to determine whether all traffic lights were operating and examining whether the train operator followed Metro Transit's procedures and traffic laws.
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