By Mary Divine and Will Ashenmacher
Pioneer Press
ST. PAUL, Minn. — A bus passenger was killed when a car fleeing a hit-and-run accident smashed completely through a Metro Transit bus Friday evening.
Another bus passenger and the driver of the car were critically injured in the crash that occurred about 7:30 p.m. in St. Paul’s Frogtown neighborhood.
Witnesses say the car was speeding eastbound on Charles Avenue when it struck the median at Dale Street and went airborne, smashing into and through the bus.
It was “horrific and surreal,” St. Paul police spokesman Steve Linders said. “We’re all shocked by it. I talked to investigators who have worked 20 to 30 years on patrol, and they’ve never seen anything like this before.”
Investigators said the passenger who died was a 48-year-old man, who was ejected from the bus from the impact. He died at the scene. His name was not released Friday night, pending family notification.
Another of the passengers, a 19-year-old man, was critically injured and taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul. He was undergoing surgery late Friday night, Linders said.
The driver of the car, Tyler Randall Bjelland, 26 of Minneapolis, suffered apparent leg injuries and was arrested on suspicion of criminal vehicular homicide. He remained hospitalized Saturday morning. Linders said he had to be extricated from the vehicle. The driver will be tested for drugs and alcohol, Linders added.
In December 2016, Bjelland was convicted of third-degree DWI -- refusal to submit to a chemical test. In June 2017, he was convicted of disorderly conduct- brawling or fighting.
There were about six to eight passengers on the bus -- Route 65 -- when the accident occurred.
The driver of the car was fleeing another collision at Victoria and Charles when the crash occurred, Linders said. The car was traveling about 70 mph down the residential street when it struck the bus.
The car, a white sedan, caught fire after the crash and could be seen smoldering afterward.
Mercedes Berry, 17, of St. Paul, was walking to the nearby Speedy Dale convenience store to buy cheese popcorn when she saw and heard the car racing eastbound on Charles.
“It came zooming past,” she said. “It hit the median, flew into the air and hit the bus. It went through the bus -- right through the bus -- and flipped.”
Berry said she felt bad for the bus passenger who died.
“He was going home and was going to see his family and stuff, and now he won’t see his family no more,” she said.
Metro Transit spokesman Howie Padilla said officials were “shocked” by the extent of damage.
“I’ve talked to people today with decades of experience, and they have seen nothing like this as far as damage to a vehicle -- both sides of it,” Padilla said. “Just to see the scene itself is shocking.”
“We take a lot of pride in getting people safely from A to B, and we do that millions and millions of times so that when something like this does happen, it really shakes all of us to the core,” Padilla said.
The bus driver was not hurt, Padilla said. “Our hearts and thoughts are certainly with the passenger who was riding with us and his family. He’s got family, friends and loved ones who are going to be missing him a lot.”
Police had the area blocked off late Friday as onlookers gathered.
As passersby came upon the scene, they audibly gasped as they surveyed the damage.
“It’s messed up,” said Retha Ginn, who had been down the block visiting family when she heard the commotion. “It’s crazy and sad.”
Copyright 2017 Pioneer Press
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