Elk River police report: Man sleeping in laundromat after hours; burglary reported; and driver hears 'crunching sound'

by Joni Astrup

Associate Editor

Shortly after 12:30 a.m. Jan. 26, police were called to Duds & Suds, 568 Dodge Ave., Elk River, to check on the welfare of a male.

Officers arrived and located the male sleeping inside the business after hours. Officers woke him and he agreed to leave. He had a cell phone and said he would call if he needed assistance.

Elk River Police Capt. Joe Gacke said the male was a 19-year-old man with no permanent address.

Burglary reported in Elk River

Police are investigating a report of a burglary in Elk River that was reported shortly before 1 p.m. Jan. 26.

Someone attempted to break into a home through the front door, was unsuccessful, and ended up entering the home through the walk-out patio by breaking the glass. A TV, desktop monitor and vertical blinds were damaged and cash was taken, according to the police report.

The incident happened on 6 1/2 Street.

Driver hears a ‘crunching sound’ as truck hits her vehicle

A vehicle was hit by a truck after entering the left turn lane for Main Street while traveling east on Highway 10 in Elk River at around 8 a.m. Jan. 25.

The driver “stated she heard a crunching sound and realized a large blue/white utility truck was driving into the back end of her vehicle,” according to the police report.

The truck left the scene in an unknown direction.

The driver of the vehicle that was hit, a 35-year-old Elk River woman, was not injured. The vehicle had severe damage to the back end, the rear bumper came off and the rear window was shattered.

Witnesses said that she was driving erratically and got over in front of the semi, while partially blocking the lane to the right of the turn lane, the police report stated.

“Both witnesses believed that the semi/utility truck would not have been able to see (the vehicle) due to it cutting in front of it with only about 3 feet in between the vehicles,” according to the police report.

Vehicle spins around, half fills with water after entering creek

A woman who lost control of her vehicle on glare ice spun around, went into a ditch and into a creek. Her vehicle sustained light damage; the back half filled with water. A tow was required to winch the vehicle out, according to the police report.

The crash was reported shortly after 8:30 a.m. Jan. 24. The driver, a 29-year-old Ramsey woman, had been westbound on 181st Avenue near Cleveland Street when it happened.

Passerby puts out flames on bus

A fire involving a Vision Transportation bus was reported at 7:18 a.m. Jan. 30 near Jackson Street and Freeport Court in Elk River.

According to the police report, the brake line area of the bus near the rear driver’s side tires was on fire. The flames were extinguished by a passerby; however, the Elk River Fire Department responded, as it was still actively smoking. Police stood by for traffic control and a tow that was ordered by the bus company. The driver had a relief bus respond to the scene and continued on with his route.

Three vehicles are involved in crash

Three vehicles were involved in a crash in the 19400 block of Proctor Road in Elk River at around 10:30 a.m. Jan. 27.

A vehicle driven by a 75-year-old Elk River man was traveling north on Proctor and rear-ended a vehicle driven by a 70-year-old St. Augusta woman. The first vehicle was stuck to the rear of the second vehicle while both were still traveling north, according to the police report.

The driver of the first vehicle then put his vehicle in reverse to disconnect and backed into a third vehicle that was also northbound.

Two passengers in one of the vehicles and the 75-year-old male driver were taken to the hospital.

Teen cited after hitting mailboxes

A 19-year-old Elk River man who hit mailboxes was cited for failure to drive with due care. The incident happened shortly before 3:30 a.m. Jan. 27.

Gacke said the man reported that he was following a minivan that had been crossing the center and fog line and at one point drove on the opposite side of the roadway. While he was following the minivan, he struck the mailboxes. The minivan was not immediately located in the area.