On January 14, 2022, at about 5:40 p.m., Cloquet officers responded to a report of a man lying on the side of Hwy 45. Officer later learned the man had been struck by a vehicle.
Through an investigation, which included information obtained by an off-duty CPD officer, Officers discovered that a disturbance over parking issues led to a road rage incident between the two groups.
Preliminary information revealed that two men became enraged over parking issues near 15th Street and Cloquet Avenue. As one group left in a vehicle, another group followed, leading to a road rage incident.
The vehicles stuck each other during road rage, causing one SUV to enter the ditch.
A man from the vehicle in the ditch exited and walked into the roadway.
The continuing vehicle turned around after the incident and returned toward the crash scene.
As the SUV approached the crash scene, it struck the man in the roadway.
The SUV driver later fled the scene but was located a short time later.
The person struck by the SUV, a 32-year-old Cloquet man, was transported to a local hospital by a Cloquet Area Fire District ambulance. He was conscious and able to speak with officers after the incident. His current condition is unknown.
The suspect driver of the striking SUV, a 38-year-old Cloquet woman, was interviewed. Officers have requested the Carlton County Attorney's Office to review the case for possible charges of Criminal Vehicular Operation-Great bodily harm, Duty to Drive with Due Care, and Traffic Collision-Driver Fail to Stop-Injury or Death.
The Cloquet Police Department was assisted by the Carlton County Sheriff's Office and the Cloquet Area Fire District.
