Itasca County, Minnesota (trfnews.i234.me) – A tragic incident unfolded in the early hours of Sunday, April 20, when 13-year-old Angelica Bryan of Cass Lake lost her life in a high-speed crash following a police pursuit in Itasca County.
According to the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office, deputies attempted to stop a vehicle around 1:30 a.m. for driving without headlights near County Road 63 and County Road 271. The driver, identified as Bryan, fled the scene, reaching speeds of up to 90 miles per hour.
The Minnesota State Patrol deployed stop sticks in an attempt to halt the vehicle, but they were unsuccessful. Bryan continued driving without headlights and eventually veered off the road near County Road 11, crashing into a tree. She was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary investigations by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) revealed that the vehicle Bryan was driving had been reported stolen from a residence in Cohasset earlier that night.
Family members disclosed that Bryan had been placed in a foster home in Grand Rapids and was attempting to return to her family in Cass Lake. Her sister, MacKenzie Johnson, described Angelica as a vibrant young girl who loved the outdoors and aspired to be a makeup artist.
A GoFundMe page has been established by Bryan’s family to assist with funeral expenses.
The BCA is leading the investigation into the pursuit and crash at the request of the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office to ensure impartiality.
I’m Chris Harper, and I’m reporting for TRF News.
Did you know?
-
In Minnesota, law enforcement agencies have specific policies governing high-speed pursuits to balance public safety with the need to apprehend suspects.
-
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension often investigates incidents involving fatalities during police pursuits to provide independent oversight.
-
Native American youth are disproportionately represented in the foster care system, highlighting systemic challenges that communities continue to address.