Twin Cities driver killed in crash leaving Ikea was jazz musician, arts promoter

A motorist pulling out of a retail parking ramp near the Mall of America died in a collision with another vehicle, police said Sunday.

Andre Stephani, 83, of Minneapolis, was identified Saturday by the Hennepin County medical examiner's office as the person who died after the late Wednesday afternoon crash outside the ramp for the Ikea home furnishings store in Bloomington.

Stephani was a past president of the St. Paul Art Collective, which promotes a range of arts and artists in the city.

In a Facebook posting, the collective said that Stephani's wife, Nancy, was injured in the crash and hospitalized in serious condition.

The professional jazz trombonist and vocalist "was an accomplished musician," the posting read. "Nancy is a well known painter and artist. They were long time Lowertown residents. ... Andre was a great supporter of the arts community."

Stephani was heading north out of the ramp and attempting to turn left onto American Boulevard when he collided with a vehicle coming from his left, police said.

He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center and died that night.

The ramp exit does not have any signal lights or stop signs, indicating that the other driver had the right of way.

Police said they did not have information on the other driver.