The roughly one-mile pursuit lasted about 50 seconds before the SUV lost control and struck a tree early Saturday.
ST. PAUL, MN — Two men died early Saturday after an SUV fleeing a Ramsey County sheriff’s deputy at speeds exceeding 100 mph lost control and crashed into a tree in St. Paul, according to the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash followed a brief pursuit that began just after midnight Nov. 7 when a deputy attempted to stop an Acura RDX near Rose Avenue East and Burr Street North. The driver did not stop, and the deputy followed the vehicle for about one mile before the crash. Authorities said the pursuit lasted roughly 50 seconds.
The Sheriff’s Office said the Acura reached speeds of more than 100 mph while the deputy remained about three blocks behind it. Investigators said the SUV hit a dip in the roadway near Wheelock Parkway, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle then struck a tree near Payne and Nebraska avenues.
Both men inside the Acura were ejected in the crash, authorities said. One was pronounced dead at the scene. The other was taken to Regions Hospital, where he later died. Officials did not immediately release their names.
The person believed by authorities to have been driving was a 27-year-old man who had several outstanding felony warrants, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Officials said the warrants included cases involving drug possession, drug trafficking and fleeing police. The other occupant was a 29-year-old man. Authorities had not publicly identified either man as of Sunday.
The crash occurred near New Beginnings Church. Members of the church were cleaning up damage Saturday morning, according to CBS Minnesota. Senior pastor James Carlson said the crash damaged windows and lights at the property and described the deaths as tragic. Church members also expressed sympathy for the families of the two men.
The Sheriff’s Office has not released additional information about why the deputy initially tried to stop the Acura. Officials also have not disclosed whether other agencies will review the pursuit or whether investigators have obtained additional evidence about the events immediately before the crash.
The deaths add to the investigation of the short, high-speed pursuit, with authorities relying on the medical examiner to formally identify the two men. Officials said their names would be released after their identities were confirmed and relatives were notified.
Author note: Last updated November 8, 2026.