St. Paul Green Line Fatality: Pedestrian Killed by Train on University Ave

A tragic accident on the METRO Green Line left one pedestrian dead on Friday night, causing significant disruptions to local commuter traffic and prompting an active investigation by transit authorities.The Incident Overview

Emergency Response and Location

Emergency crews rushed to the scene in St. Paul shortly after 8:30 p.m. on Friday, September 18, 2026. The collision occurred on the light rail tracks near the busy intersection of University Avenue West and Prior Avenue North, situated just southeast of the local Menards retail store.

Casualties and On-Scene Medical Care

First responders initiated immediate life-saving procedures upon arriving at the tracks. Despite their efforts, the pedestrian sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Metro Transit officials confirmed that no passengers or crew members aboard the train were injured during the collision.Transit Disruption and Commuter Impact

System-Wide Delays

The fatal crash forced transit operators to halt all train movements along that section of the line. The closure resulted in immediate, widespread delays for commuters traveling between Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul.

Emergency Shuttles Deployed

To keep commuters moving while emergency personnel secured the scene, Metro Transit established an emergency bus bridge. Shuttles were deployed to transport passengers back and forth between the Snelling Avenue Station and the Raymond Avenue Station for several hours. Normal rail operations resumed later that night once the initial scene investigation was complete.

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Ongoing Investigation

Determining Cause

The Metro Transit Police Department has taken full custody of the investigation. Accident reconstruction teams spent Friday night mapping out the area and interviewing eyewitnesses to determine exactly how the individual entered the restricted track area ahead of the oncoming westbound train.

Identification Pending

Authorities have not yet released the name, age, or gender of the deceased individual, pending the notification of next of kin by the medical examiner's office. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby business storefronts and front-facing cameras on the light rail vehicle itself to piece together the moments leading up to the collision.