UPDATE: 19-Year-Old Lake Elmo Woman Arrested After High-Speed Pursuit Ends in Crash on I-494 in South St. Paul
UPDATED: 9 AM on October 28, 2025.
October 25, 2025 - Written by: Will Wight
SOUTH ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - A 19-year-old Lake Elmo woman was arrested Saturday evening, October 25, 225, after allegedly fleeing deputies at over 100 mph along I-494, leading to a crash in South St. Paul. In a separate incident, another hit-and-run crash occurred after the first, which the Minnesota State Patrol was investigating.
High-Speed Pursuit and Crash
According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office police report, a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle around 5:46 PM on southbound (westbound) I-494 near Bailey Road in Newport, Minnesota, after clocking it traveling 110 mph in a 60 mph zone. The driver, identified as Helen Michelle Fuentes Murcia, 19, of Lake Elmo, refused to stop and led deputies on a pursuit into Dakota County.
The chase ended when Fuentes Murcia’s vehicle crashed into another car near I-494 and 5th Avenue South in South St. Paul around 5:54 PM. Authorities said no injuries were reported in the crash, and Fuentes Murcia was taken into custody at the scene.
Fuentes Murcia faces multiple charges according to the police report from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, including:
Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle (Felony)
DWI — Operate Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol (Gross Misdemeanor)
DWI — Alcohol Concentration 0.08 Within 2 Hours (Gross Misdemeanor)
Third-Degree DWI — Driving While Impaired; Aggravating Factor (Gross Misdemeanor)
Reckless Driving — Consciously Disregarding a Substantial or Unjustifiable Risk (Misdemeanor)
Speeding — 110 mph in a 60 mph Zone (Misdemeanor)
Instruction Permit Violation — Person 18+ Driving Without Required Supervision (Misdemeanor)
Liquor Consumption by Persons Under 21 (Misdemeanor)
Failure to Carry Proof of Insurance (Misdemeanor)
A 19-year-old passenger, also from Lake Elmo, was not arrested but is being cited for Liquor Consumption by Persons Under 21, according to the police report from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Secondary Hit-and-Run Crash
The second crash occurred shortly afterward, around 6:00 p.m., on westbound I-494. That collision involved a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the truck driver reportedly failed to stop following the crash, and the State Patrol is investigating the incident as a hit-and-run. No injuries were reported in the second crash.
The two incidents led to the temporary closure of the westbound I-494 at 5th Avenue South as law enforcement and emergency crews worked at the scene. Traffic was diverted off the highway at 5th Avenue South during the investigation.
South Metro Fire and several assisting police agencies responded to the area to support law enforcement and ensure safety while both scenes were cleared.
Both investigations remain active. Limitless Media News will provide updates as additional information becomes available from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota State Patrol.
Photo provided to us by Becca Stevenson from the scene of this incident.
Written by: Will Wight
