2 students in critical condition after hit-and-run

TommieMedia map by designer Sam Wisneski
TommieMedia map by designer Sam Wisneski

Two St. Thomas students are in critical condition at Regions Hospital in St. Paul after a hit-and-run accident on the 1900 block of Grand Avenue early Sunday morning.

Police said Monday they found a late-model silver Mazda at 5 p.m. Sunday, which they said was involved in the accident. The St. Paul Police Department tweeted officers found the vehicle on the 1700 block of Carroll Avenue, and that the driver has not been arrested.

A passenger side mirror casing and headlight casing from the vehicle were recovered from the scene Sunday morning.

Police said the students, senior Rebekka Peterson, senior Nicholas Bergeland and three other people, were getting out of a cab at around 2:34 a.m. when a car traveling westbound on Grand Avenue struck both Peterson and Bergeland.

Jim Winterer, St. Thomas’ director of media relations, said the university is in touch with both families. Representatives from St. Thomas are making frequent visits to the hospital.

The university has scheduled a prayer service for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in Florence Chapel, the lower level of the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas. The Rev. Erich Rutten will lead the service, which is open to all students.

Kayla Bengtson, Gabi Martinson and Heidi Enninga contributed to this report.