Four Hospitalized After Brooklyn Park Squad SUV Rolls During Emergency Response

BROOKLYN PARK, MN. 

A Brooklyn Park police squad SUV responding to an emergency call rolled over Wednesday afternoon after colliding with another vehicle at one of the city’s busier intersections, sending four people to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The crash occurred at approximately 3:21 p.m. on February 11 at the intersection of 85th Avenue North and Zane Avenue North, according to authorities. The intersection is a major east-west and north-south corridor in the northwest metro, carrying steady commercial and residential traffic throughout the day.

What Happened

Preliminary information released by the Minnesota State Patrol and the Brooklyn Park Police Department indicates that a marked police SUV was traveling westbound on 85th Avenue North while responding to a call for service with its emergency lights and siren activated.

As the squad entered the intersection, it was struck by a Chevrolet Equinox traveling southbound on Zane Avenue North. The force of the collision caused the police SUV to flip and come to rest upside down in the roadway. A third vehicle, identified as a Toyota Highlander, was also involved after being struck in the chain reaction of the crash.

Authorities have not publicly released additional details about the role of the third vehicle beyond confirming its involvement.

Injuries and Response

Emergency medical personnel treated four individuals at the scene before transporting them to local hospitals.

Two Brooklyn Park police officers who were inside the squad vehicle were hospitalized. Two occupants of the Chevrolet Equinox were also transported for treatment. All injuries were described as non-life-threatening.

No fatalities were reported.

The dramatic rollover drew a swift emergency response, temporarily disrupting traffic at the intersection during peak afternoon hours as fire crews, paramedics, and investigators worked the scene.

Independent Investigation Underway

Because the collision involved on-duty Brooklyn Park officers, the Minnesota State Patrol is leading the investigation to ensure an independent review.

Investigators are examining multiple factors, including:

• The traffic signal sequence at the time of impact
• Vehicle speeds
• Right-of-way conditions
• Compliance with emergency response protocols

Under Minnesota law, authorized emergency vehicles may proceed through red lights or stop signs when responding to an emergency, provided they slow as necessary for safety and operate with due regard for other motorists. Whether those statutory standards were fully met in this instance will be part of the State Patrol’s review.

As of Thursday, authorities had not announced whether any citations would be issued or whether impairment, distraction, or roadway conditions played a role.

Broader Context

Crashes involving emergency vehicles during active responses, while statistically uncommon, often present complex legal and operational questions. Departments across Minnesota train officers extensively on intersection-clearing procedures, recognizing that intersections remain among the most dangerous environments for both first responders and civilians.

The 85th and Zane corridor, a heavily traveled commercial artery in Brooklyn Park, is equipped with signalized traffic control, but even with emergency lights and sirens engaged, drivers may not always see or hear approaching squads in time to yield.

The Minnesota State Patrol has not provided a timeline for completing its investigation. Officials say additional information will be released once the review is finalized.

For now, four people are recovering, and a routine emergency response has become a reminder of the inherent risks faced by both first responders and the communities they serve.

MinneapoliMedia