Police Car Strikes Pedestrian in Bemidji

An investigation is underway following a serious incident in Bemidji, Minnesota, where a police officer struck a pedestrian with a squad car. The collision occurred early Wednesday morning, around 1:12 a.m., on Irvine Avenue near 18th Street Northwest. The pedestrian, a 36-year-old man from Duluth, sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital.

Authorities report that the police vehicle, a 2021 Ford Explorer, was traveling northbound in normal, non-emergency mode at the time of the crash. The 54-year-old officer driving the squad car was unharmed. Preliminary findings suggest the pedestrian may have been under the influence of alcohol. The Minnesota State Patrol is leading the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the event.