1 dead when utility pole falls on vehicle in Hopkins, sparking fire and power outage

Police say an investigation is underway after a utility pole fell on a vehicle, sparking a fire and killing the person inside early Sunday evening in Hopkins, Minnesota.

It happened around 5 p.m. in a parking lot on the 300 block of Blake Road North. Video taken at the scene from bystanders show huge flames and a massive black cloud of smoke pouring from the vehicle.

Law enforcement haven't said what caused the pole to fall, and they haven't released the name of the person inside the vehicle who died. In a statement, an Xcel Energy spokesperson said the "pole was inspected recently and was in compliance with all required safety standards."

Neighbors who live in the area, however, say they're not so sure.

"I've lived here for five years and that thing's been slanted for five years," said Naomi Merrill.

Merrill provided WCCO with a photo that she took of the police just over a year ago, which shows it leaning. Merrill says that since then, it had gotten even worse.

"I mean I don't know angles and I'm not good at math, but I would say it's definitely a slant that should have been fixed a long time ago," she said.

"Our thoughts are with the individual who was fatally injured when a pole came down Sunday in Hopkins," the Xcel spokesperson said. "We are working with authorities and conducting our own investigation into the matter."

Xcel says electricity was restored to most of the 160-plus customers impacted by early Monday afternoon.   

A neighbor spoke to WCCO Sunday night about what she heard before first responders arrived.  

"I was in my apartment complex and I had the screen door open and all of a sudden I heard a loud bang and then a pop sound. And then the car alarm went off probably five, six seconds later, and then I came to my patio door and I saw white smoke," the neighbor said.  

Nearby resident Javier Bowen tells WCCO this tragedy puts things into perspective. 

"It's bad luck and pretty horrific. Terrible timing, wrong place, wrong time," Bowen said. "I feel bad for the family of the person who died, and life is life, you know."

Hopkins is about 10 miles southwest of Minneapolis.