Authorities are investigating a tragic hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a 13-year-old bicyclist Tuesday night in Farmington, Minnesota. The victim, identified as a boy from Apple Valley, died after being struck by a vehicle while crossing the roadway, prompting an urgent search for the driver who fled the scene.
According to the Farmington Police Department, officers responded shortly before 10 p.m. on July 14 to the intersection of Minnesota Highway 50 and Dushane Parkway, near a McDonald’s restaurant, following reports of a serious collision involving a bicycle.
Preliminary findings indicate that two boys were attempting to cross Highway 50 when a westbound vehicle struck one of them. Rather than stopping to render aid, the driver continued westbound and left the scene.
Bystanders, police officers, firefighters, and paramedics immediately rushed to assist the injured teenager, providing lifesaving efforts at the scene. Despite their efforts, the 13-year-old was pronounced dead. The second bicyclist was not reported to have sustained life-threatening injuries.
Investigators believe the suspect vehicle is a small black SUV with noticeable front-end or passenger-side damage. The vehicle is also believed to be missing its passenger-side mirror, damage that may help identify it.
The Farmington Police Department is asking anyone with information about the crash, the suspected vehicle, or its driver to come forward. Detectives are particularly interested in speaking with motorists or residents who were in the area around the time of the collision and may have dashcam or surveillance footage that captured the vehicle before or after the incident.
The Minnesota State Patrol is leading the crash investigation with assistance from Farmington police.
Authorities urge anyone with relevant information to contact the Farmington Police Department at 651-280-6700. The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to identify the driver and seek justice for the young victim and his grieving family.
