Driver, 19, Dies After Car Goes Off-Road, Crashes Into Mississippi River

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A 19-year-old man died early Sunday morning after the car he was driving went off-road northwest of the Twin Cities and crashed in the Mississippi River.

The Sherburne County Sheriff’s office says the crash happened around 1:40 a.m. near Big Lake Township. The car was speeding along the 15500 block of County Road 30 and missed a 90-degree curve. The vehicle went down an embankment and into the river. Alcohol is believed to have been a factor.

Killed was the car’s driver, Dashon James Rodriquez. Responding deputies found the car in about 11 feet of water.

A 22-year-old passenger was able to escape the frigid water, swim to shore and get to a nearby house to call for help. The passenger only suffered minor injuries.