Driver Charged After Striking State Patrol Squad Car on I-94
BY MN CRIME STAFF
A State Patrol squad car was struck late Friday night on Interstate 94 near Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis and the driver now faces a felony.
According to the Patrol, the incident happened at about 9:54 p.m. on Dec. 19 as a trooper was on scene of a two-vehicle crash on westbound I-94 near Franklin Avenue.
While the trooper was outside the squad and handling that crash, the driver of a Toyota Camry collided with the unoccupied patrol vehicle.
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MnDOT traffic cameras captured the moment the squad car was hit, showing the impact near the Franklin Avenue area. Authorities said the trooper was not injured.
The driver of the Toyota Camry was identified as Lao Vang, 24, of Hugo. The State Patrol said he was booked into the Hennepin County Jail on suspicion of DWI and criminal vehicular operation.
Jail records show Vang was booked at 7:22 a.m. on Dec. 20 after being arrested by troopers. He remains in custody and is being held without bail on the probable cause charge of criminal vehicular operation involving bodily harm. Formal charges have not yet been filed.
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One passenger in the Camry suffered non-life-threatening injuries, a Patrol spokesperson said. Initial radio reports indicated the passenger complained of leg pain following the crash.
The collision caused traffic delays on westbound I-94 as crews worked to clear the scene Friday night:
The crash in New Brighton on I-35W late Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. via MnDOT
On Saturday night, a trooper was struck while inside his squad car in New Brighton, on southbound I-35W near the ramp from County Road 96.
We have not yet received official information on that incident, but radio dispatches indicated the trooper had a head injury and two ambulances were called to the scene around 9:40 p.m.
The striking driver reportedly smelled of alcohol and field sobriety testing was underway, though we don’t yet have information on the results or possible charges.
Check back for updates soon.
READ MORE > New Brighton coverage
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