UPDATED: Pedestrian Hurt in Hit-and-Run at Central/53rd Was Crossing Against Signal, Sheriff Says

Updates (10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Friday): The Anoka County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Friday morning that a pedestrian seriously injured by a hit-and-run driver in Columbia Heights early Friday was running across Central Avenue NE against a "Do Not Walk" signal.

Here is the full text of the Anoka County Sheriff's Office news release:

Pedestrian Hit and Run Accident under investigation in Columbia Heights

On Friday, March 15, 2013 at 0145 AM, the Columbia Heights Police Department responded to a pedestrian who had been struck by a car on Central Ave NE at the intersection with 53d Ave NE.

Witnesses’ at the scene state that southbound Central Ave traffic had a green semaphore as cars were approaching to go southbound through the intersection.  At the time, a male attempted to cross Central Ave by running against the “Do Not Walk” signal when he was struck by a white or silver passenger car. The driver of the suspect car did not stop at the scene and continued southbound. No other identification about the car is available.

The individual struck is a 35 year old male from Brooklyn Center, MN.  The complainant was taken to HCMC and was evaluated for serious, but likely non-life threatening injuries. The accident is under the investigation of the Columbia Heights Police Department, the Minnesota State Patrol and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.

If any member of the public has any information about the identity of the suspect or the suspect vehicle, they are asked to call the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office or Columbia Heights Police at (763) 427-1212.

Asked if it was any indication of the severity of the victim's injuries that the Allina ambulance took him to Hennepin County Medical Center in downtown Minneapolis instead of Allina's Unity Hospital in Fridley, Fridley Fire Chief John Berg said by email Friday:

Most likely they went to HCMC because it was a trauma. It is possible but not likely that the Unity Emergency Department was full and diverting calls.

Original post (as updated at 9:30 a.m. Friday): In the early hours of Friday morning, a vehicle struck a pedestrian on Central Avenue NE, according to a report at the Police Clips page on Facebook.

WCCO reported the victim was "seriously hurt," according to Anoka County authorities.

Fridley Fire Chief John Berg said by email Friday:

Fridley Fire did respond to a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle at 53rd Avenue and Central Avenue. The call time was 1:53 am on Friday March 15. An adult male was transported to HCMC by Allina Health Care.

Fridley Police Lt. Mike Monsrud gave this account in an email Friday morning:

On March 15, 2013 at 1:53 AM a Fridley police officer was in the parking lot of Applebee’s completing some paperwork when they heard loud screaming coming from the area of southbound Hwy 65 just south of 53rd Ave. The officer immediately responded to the location and observed a male laying in the middle of the road. Witnesses told the officer that a silver passenger vehicle had stuck the victim and then left the scene. The officer advised other squads to watch for the vehicle and began rendering first aid to the victim. The incident actually occurred in Columbia Heights. Columbia Heights PD arrived and took over the scene ...

According to the WCCO report citing Anoka County Emergency Dispatch, authorities are confirming a detail from Police Clips: The victim was taken to the hospital with a weak pulse.

Look for an update later with information from the Columbia Heights Police Department.

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