Fatal crash involving a sheriff’s deputy in Saint Paul. MN CRIME PHOTO

One person died and three others were injured after a Ramsey County deputy responding to a pursuit collided with another vehicle Tuesday night in Saint Paul.

The crash happened shortly after 10:45 p.m. on March 3 near Robert Street and East 12th Street as law enforcement responded to assist with an attempted traffic stop on a stolen vehicle.

According to authorities, Saint Paul police officers located a vehicle reported stolen out of Minneapolis near Seventh Street East and Maria Avenue around 10:45 p.m. Officers began following the vehicle and prepared to initiate a traffic stop as it approached Interstate 94 and Highway 280.

Investigators say the driver fled westbound on Interstate 94 when officers attempted to stop the vehicle. A Minnesota State Patrol trooper performed a PIT maneuver to disable the vehicle and end the pursuit.

The driver was taken into custody without further incident and was later identified as 27-year-old Yusuf Osman Musse. Authorities say Musse has a history of criminal charges, including a recent charge of possession of a pistol without a permit filed Feb. 23. He is in the Ramsey County jail pending formal charges for the stolen vehicle and fleeing.

While emergency responders were traveling with lights and sirens activated to assist with the pursuit, a Ramsey County sheriff’s deputy driving westbound on 12th Street East collided with the driver of a Toyota RAV4 traveling northbound on Robert Street.

 

The driver of the RAV4, 51-year-old Tha Wah, of Saint Paul, was taken to Regions Hospital where he later died. A passenger, 44-year-old Nay Blut, of Saint Paul, suffered life-threatening injuries and was also taken to Regions Hospital. Another passenger, a four-year-old boy, suffered injuries described as not life-threatening.

The deputy driving the squad car, 35-year-old John Andrew Gleason, of Cottage Grove, was transported to Regions Hospital with injuries described as not life-threatening. A passenger in the squad, 19-year-old Lawrence Nyakundi Obondi, of Saint Paul, was also taken to Regions Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators said road conditions were dry at the time of the crash and alcohol is not believed to have played a role.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the crash remains under investigation.