The two New Brighton residents killed in a suspected drunk driving crash on Interstate-694 in Arden Hills Friday have been identified.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the crash occurred when the driver of a Chevrolet Equinox was going west on I-694 in the right lane approaching Snelling Avenue at around 8:45 a.m. when the driver swerved from the right lane to the left shoulder.
The driver, identified as a 31-year-old Minneapolis man, then over-corrected, causing his Equinox to spin-out and enter the ditch. Moments later, the Equinox crossed through the ditch on the right, striking a Chevrolet Malibu and forcing it sideways into the left lane of I-694.
A semi truck then slammed into the driver’s side door of the Malibu, killing both occupants inside the vehicle. The driver of the Malibu has been identified as 76-year-old Curtis John O’Connor, while the passenger has been identified as 74-year-old Karin Leigh O’Connor.
The driver of the Equinox is suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol, according to the State Patrol.