Fleeing Roseville Police, St. Paul Man Has Car Accident with Another Vehicle Bursting in Flames

Roseville Police  on early Saturday morning arrested a 33-year-old St. Paul man for alleged criminal vehicular operation of vehicle after he fled from them and T-boned into another car, causing it to burst into flames.  

The accident at Dale Street and Minnehaha Avenue resulted in injuries to the St. Paul man, Florencio Cordero who was driving a 2003 Hyundai Elantra. Also injured was a 28-year-old woman, who was driving a 2006 Nissan Murano that burst into flames.

Both victims were being treated Saturday afternoon for non-life threatening injuries at area hospitals, Roseville Police said in a press statement. 

Police said they are referring the case to the Ramsey County Attorney's Office for review and charging. 

Here is the text of the press release that Roseville Police issued late Saturday afternoon: 

"At approximately 12:32 a.m. on Saturday, March 30th, Roseville Police Officers arrested Florencio Cordero, a 33-year old St. Paul man for probable cause criminal vehicular operation as well as fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle after the auto Cordero was driving entered a semaphore controlled intersection at Dale Street and Minnehaha and t- boned another auto while attempting to flee police.

It was at 12:28 a.m., a Roseville Police Officer attempted to stop a 2003 Hyundai Elantra east bound on Highway 36 at Victoria Street for an equipment violation.

The officer documented the Elantra slowed and exited onto the Dale Street ramp and continued to travel without making any attempt to stop for the squad’s emergency lights and siren.

As the Elantra traveled south on Dale Street through the intersection at County Road B against a red semaphore light, the officer radioed the dispatcher stating he was in pursuit of a fleeing vehicle.

The pursuit of the Elantra continued south on Dale Street for approximately 3 miles and ended in a crash when the Elantra entered the semaphore controlled intersection on a red light at approximately 60 plus miles per hour and struck a 2006 Nissan Murano traveling east bound on Minnehaha.

The Murano immediately burst into flames and came to rest in a parking lot located in the southeast corner of the intersection. Responding officers found the driver of the Murano, a 28-year old St. Paul woman, to be conscious and trapped in her burning car. Officers were able to successfully remove the woman from her vehicle moments before it was fully engulfed in flames.

The driver of the Elantra, Florencio Cordero, was found conscious, screaming in pain and trapped in his vehicle. Cordero had to be extricated from his vehicle by St. Paul Fire Fighters.

The 28-year old female driver of the Murano is currently being treated at a St. Paul area hospital and has what doctors describe as non-life threatening substantial bodily injuries.

Florencio Cordero is being treated for his injuries at a local St. Paul area hospital with substantial bodily injuries.

The St. Paul Police Department is assisting the Roseville Police Department with the crash investigation and has impounded both vehicles.

Evidence collected at the crash scene indicates Cordero may have been consuming alcoholic beverages earlier in the evening.

The Roseville Police Department will be submitting their case against Cordero to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office on Monday, April 1st for charging consideration.

If charged, Cardero faces criminal violations related to Criminal Vehicular Injury and Fleeing a Police Officer resulting in bodily injury. Both charges are felonies with prison time and fines dependent upon injuries.

Anyone with information on Florencio Cordero’s whereabouts prior to the crash, please call Crime Stoppers of Minnesota at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or text-a-tip to “Tip674 plus your tip” to 274637 (CRIMES).

You may remain anonymous and your information could pay a reward."