Suleiman Abdi and Craig Hennen Die in Fatal St. Cloud Car Crash
Fatal St. Cloud car crash death of Suleiman Abdi and Craig Hennen
Two individuals lost their lives following a speeding vehicle incident that began with a traffic stop and concluded with a high-speed collision. According to reports from local law enforcement, the tragic events unfolded during the early hours of Wednesday evening.
Shortly before 11:45 p.m., police encountered a commercial truck traveling at excessive speed along Ninth Avenue South. The driver of this vehicle was observed without headlights, a violation noted by responding officers. Standard procedure dictated that the officer initiate a traffic stop. However, upon approaching the stationary truck, the driver immediately discarded a firearm from the window before accelerating rapidly and eluding pursuit.
Following this dramatic departure, officers prioritized locating the fleeing vehicle. The extensive search proved unsuccessful, leading them to return to the initial scene of the traffic stop. There, they discovered the discarded object, identified as a gun.
Tragically, while these efforts were underway, another collision occurred in the vicinity of the 1300 block of 10th Avenue North. This secondary incident involved the same fleeing driver, who continued to operate the speeding truck at significant velocity. The vehicle collided forcefully with the side of another automobile, resulting in the deaths of its two occupants: Suleiman Abdi, age 59, and Craig Hennen, age 45.
The St. Cloud Police Department subsequently confirmed the identities of the deceased individuals, establishing both residents of St. Cloud. Information gathered at the scene and during the ongoing investigation led authorities to identify the suspect as a 26-year-old man from Sauk Rapids. Medical professionals have reported that this suspect, the driver of the speeding truck, is currently hospitalized in critical condition.
Law enforcement officials have confirmed that this developing tragedy is currently under active investigation. The full extent of the incident and the circumstances surrounding it are expected to be determined as the ongoing investigation progresses.
