5 injured when car is pushed into traffic

Following a hit-and-run accident on Midway Road Friday, June 26, a Two Harbors man was charged in Sixth District St. Louis County Court Tuesday. Rodney Scandin Jr., 35, faces a total of five felony counts of criminal vehicular operation — two for great bodily harm and two for substantial bodily harm — in which the driver who causes the collision leaves the scene.

According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, a car occupied by four family members was stopped on Midway road facing north, waiting to turn west onto Stark Road on Friday afternoon, when they were hit from behind by a pickup truck. The crash forced the family’s Subaru into oncoming traffic, including a full-size truck pulling an 18-foot enclosed trailer. The work truck, trailer and Subaru ended up in the ditch on the west side of the road, and the driver of the Ford F-150, Scandin, fled the scene. Witnesses were unable to keep up with the truck.

According to the press release on the incident, five people were hospitalized after the crash with injuries including broken teeth, collar bones, ribs, pelvis and nose; and internal bleeding. While four were expected to be released by Sunday, one victim was still in critical condition in a Twin Cities area hospital early this week.

After police sent out a press release with a photo of the truck taken from nearby surveillance video, Scandin turned himself in.

At the hearing Tuesday, bail was set at $30,000 (with no conditions) or no cost with conditions. An omnibus hearing is set for Aug. 18.

Find a GoFundMe page was started for the family.

According to the page, the father/husband was severely injured and will require “months of complete immobilization at a rehab facility” followed by extensive physical therapy before they are able to return to their home in Florida.

About $30,000 toward a goal of $50,000 had been raised on the website by the middle of the week.