Crime & Safety

Man Declines Ambulance then Dies Along I-394

Officials suspect a medical situation caused the crash and the death.

Just before 9 a.m. Tuesday, the driver of a black BMW SUV went off the road along eastbound Interstate 394 and crashed into a retaining pond.

The driver, 52-year-old Michael Fernando of Eden Prairie, died at the scene, the said. 

According to MSP Lt. Eric Roeske, Fernando got out of his SUV and called 911 immediately after the crash. On that call, a dispatcher is said to have asked Fernando if he needed an ambulance. Fernando reportedly refused medical aid, telling the dispatcher that he was okay and that he needed a tow truck because his vehicle had gone off the road. 

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fernando then apparently sat along eastbound Interstate 394, near where his car went into the shallow water and waited for authorities. However, by the time the first state trooper arrived on the scene minutes later, Fernando was unresponsive. 

That trooper performed CPR until an ambulance arrived. But once on the scene, medics pronounced Fernando dead. 

Although his SUV was nearly submerged in the retaining pond, Fernando did not drown, confirmed. In fact,  said that Fernando suffered no crash-related injuries whatsoever. 

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fernando's body was taken to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office for further investigation. The examiner has not yet released any details but officials suspect a "medical situation" is to blame for the man's death. 

The incident happened near the intersection of Interstate 394 and Hopkins Crossroad in Minnetonka. It took nearly three hours for crews to retrieve the SUV from the Minnetonka pond.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.