6 Hospitalized After 2-Car Collision In St. Paul

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The St. Paul Police Department is investigating after a crash sent six people, including three children, to the hospital.

Two cars collided at Maryland Avenue and Johnson Parkway around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday night. All six victims were rushed to Regions after the crash.

The three children -- ages 12, 10 and 6 -- were then transferred to Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare where they're still getting medical help.

On Friday morning, investigators were back out at the crash site trying to piece together the accident. The intersection has reopened to traffic and drivers passed through with little to slow them down.

Most didn't notice the remaining crime tape, the broken taillights or the leftover damage of a two car crash that brought the busy area to a standstill overnight.

Nearby resident Jennifer Lint can't forget what she saw when the crushing sound of metal drew her from her St. Paul home.

"I heard a loud crash," Lint said. "The driver was laying on the pavement and there was a child laying on the grass."

Those victims, Tou Pao Lee and his 10-year-old son, Peter, were rushed to the hospital along with Lee's two other children.

"It's sad anytime, but when they're little kids, it's more sad," Lint said.

The crash now has Lint questioning the safety of the intersection. Lint says she's seen two accidents at the intersection in two days.

"This is … an area where people speed and love to run the red light," Lint said.

But St. Paul Police have a much different focus.

Investigators are waiting for the results of the blood alcohol test to see if any of the drivers were driving drunk.

"There's a lot of factors involved here and I'm certainly not willing to put the intersection at fault when we believe alcohol is involved," Howie Padilla, of the St. Paul Police Department, said.

Authorities say it appears the other driver, 23-year-old Jim Xiong, crashed into Lee's vehicle while traveling west down Maryland. But, so far, officers aren't laying blame on either driver as they await the results of a toxicology test.

"Frankly, who failed to yield or did anyone fail to yield, those are all things we're going to be asking. We'd love to have these are all questions answered right now," Padilla said.

Lee, the kids' dad, is in serious condition.

Xiong is in good condition. His passenger, Jennifer Hang, is in fair condition.