By: Claudia Staut
COTTAGE GROVE – A 6-year-old and a 15-year-old died Thursday morning after a high-speed chase resulted in a crash, according to a press conference with Washington County sheriff’s deputy Richard Hillock.
The crash involved two cars, a Chevy Malibu with one driver, and a Honda Civic that included one driver and four passengers, according to Hillock.
The 6-year-old girl and 15-year-old who were killed were passengers of the Honda Civic, according to Hillock.
The driver of the Chevy Malibu, Colin Joe Reed, 28, has an active arrest warrant in connection with a murder, according to Hillock.
Cottage Grove police arrived at Reed’s girlfriend's home to arrest him for the murder warrant this morning, according to Hillock.
Three squad cars initiated the high-speed chase around 10:10 a.m. with Reed, according to Hillock.
The Cottage Grove Police Department used a spike stop in an attempt to stop Reed, according to Hillock.
Reed ran into the Civic at the intersection of Hinton Avenue South and 76th Avenue South, according to Hillock.
The driver and all of the other passengers of the Honda Civic were sent to Regions Hospital in St. Paul according to Hillock.
The driver and the other two passengers of the Honda Civic were treated and released within the same day according to Hillock.
There have been varying opinions on who is responsible for the high-speed chase through a residential area.
Washington County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the pursuit.
John Davenport, 70, is a resident of Hinton Heights Apartments who witnessed the crash in real time, Davenport said the high-speed chase was a poor choice for the police.
“It was reckless, reckless, reckless on the part of the police,” Davenport said. “I know they want to get their guy. Who speeds like this through a place where people live?”
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officer Association defended the police’s choice in a statement and blamed the suspect instead.
“A violent criminal evading capture on an arrest warrant for murder chose recklessly to take the life of another innocent victim," the group said in the statement.