Woman fatally hit by car in downtown Minneapolis

A pedestrian was struck and killed while crossing Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis on Tuesday evening as commuters rushed home to seek refuge from the ­winter storm, police said.

The victim, whom authorities said was a woman, appeared to be crossing Hennepin in the crosswalk when a vehicle attempting to turn onto Hennepin from 8th Street struck her. She died shortly afterward from her injuries.

The driver immediately stopped and is cooperating with authorities, police said.

A group of people who were walking with the victim were unharmed. Weather may have played a factor in the crash; visibility was low and road conditions icy around 5 p.m.

It's too soon to tell whether the driver could face charges, said Minneapolis Police Department spokesman John Elder, who issued this plea to drivers: "Slow down and pay attention. Take your time. Nothing is worth this."

One block of Hennepin Avenue was closed off between 7th and 8th Streets so investigators could reconstruct the crash. Metro Transit buses were temporarily rerouted.

LIZ SAWYER