Woman Killed In Brooklyn Park Crash Identified

BROOKLYN PARK, MN — The woman killed in a crash in Brooklyn Park on Sunday has been identified as 25-year-old Kaiyla Rae Phillips.

Phillips, of Minneapolis, died in a single-car crash at County Road 81 and Green Haven Drive North at 12:33 p.m., according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.

The manner of death was an accident and the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, the examiner ruled.

The second occupant in the vehicle was arrested after fleeing.

On Sunday just after 12:30 p.m., the Brooklyn Park Police Department responded to a reported traffic crash on County Road 81 near Greenhaven Drive.

The 911 callers reported that a car rolled over into the ditch and a man had run from the vehicle towards the nearby Walmart.

Police at the scene found the car upside down in the culvert with no one inside. However, "due to the severe damage to the vehicle, officers were concerned that there may be parties trapped underneath in the culvert," the Brooklyn Park Police Department said.

Citywide Towing responded and winched up the vehicle enough so access could be gained underneath. Officers found a woman under the car who "was obviously deceased."

During the investigation, police learned from witnesses that the vehicle had just fled from Napa Auto Parts in Osseo after the occupants had stolen merchandise. The car was being driven by a woman with a man in the passenger seat.

Police found the man at Walmart. He was arrested, treated at the hospital for minor injuries, and later booked at the Hennepin County Jail for multiple outstanding warrants.

Additional charges may be filed after further investigation, authorities said. The vehicle was previously reported stolen in Minneapolis.

"The police were not involved in any sort of pursuit with this vehicle," the Brooklyn Park Police Department said. "The police did not learn about the related criminal activity until after the crash had already happened."

The woman's identity and cause of death will be released by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.