SUV driver strikes, kills pedestrian in St. Paul

Updated 12:30 p.m. | Published 7:25 a.m.

St. Paul police say the driver who struck and killed a runner on Mississippi River Boulevard may have been impaired and possibly distracted before the crash.

The incident happened at about 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, according to police spokesperson Steve Linders.

He said a preliminary investigation indicated the victim, Scott Allen Spoo, 35, of Woodbury, was in the marked crosswalk on Mississippi River Boulevard, in front of Eastcliff, the University of Minnesota president's residence at the corner of Dayton and the river road. The sun was still up at the time.

The southbound SUV struck Spoo and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver stopped a short distance later.

"Officers who responded to the scene did detect impairment on the driver of the SUV, who was a 60-year-old adult male," said Linders. He said witnesses also indicated the driver may have been distracted, although Linders said he didn't know the exact circumstances. The driver was taken into custody. This is the city's first pedestrian fatality of 2017, Linders said. St. Paul had four such fatalities last year, prompting the city to launch a pedestrian safety campaign.

"We've been working hard through our Stop for Me campaign, and our work to educate the public about the importance of reducing distracted driving, paying attention and respecting pedestrian rights," Linders said. "It's just a sad, sad situation."

He urged drivers and pedestrians to be more vigilant and to make eye contact with each other whether you are on foot or behind the wheel in an effort to acknowledge who has the right of way.

Linders said pedestrians who signal their intention to cross a street or road, in a marked or unmarked crosswalk, have the right of way and drivers should stop for them.