Hennepin County Examiner Releases Info on Crash Victim

Sean Kian, 52, died Dec. 4 when his car was struck by a police squad car in emergency mode on Woodland Road and Excelsior Blvd. in Minnetonka.

The Hennepin County Examiner has determined Kian, who lived on Woodgate Road in Minnetonka, died as a result of blunt force trauma sustained in a motor vehicle accident. The manner of death is pending investigation, and the State Patrol continues to investigate.

Around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, Minnetonka Police Officer Daniel Aschenbrener, 28, also of Minnetonka, was traveling westbound on Excelsior Blvd. on an emergency call with lights and sirens activated, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

Kian was driving a 1988 BMW northbound on Woodland Road. The squad car broadsided the passenger side of Kian's sedan when it cut into the squad car's path.

Kian was not wearing a seat belt. 

"If he would have had his seat belt on, there is a high likelihood that he would have survived the crash," said Minnesota State Patrol Lt. Eric Roeske. "All the damage was on the passenger side. There was virtually no intrusion on the driver's side."

Officer Aschenbrener was treated for non-life threatening injuries. He was driving a Minnetonka Police car (a 2010 Ford Crown Victoria) at the time of the crash.

At a news conference at Minnetonka City Hall with the Minnesota State Patrol and Minnetonka Police, Police Chief Mark Raquet said Officer Aschenbrener is on paid administrative leave while the crash is investigated. He has been with the Minnetonka Police Department since September 2010 and has no driving violations in his file, according to Raquet.