Bicyclist identified after being fatally struck by light-rail train in Minneapolis

A bicyclist fatally struck by a Metro Transit light-rail train Sunday night in south Minneapolis was a 38-year-old man.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner said Miles Patak died of blunt force injuries following a collision with a northbound Blue Line train about 9:50 p.m. at E. 42nd Street and Hiawatha Avenue.

Patak, of Minneapolis, was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts performed by emergency responders, including Metro Transit police and the Minneapolis Fire Department and paramedics, said Metro Transit spokesman Jeremy Zoss.

Trains were halted between Franklin Avenue and Fort Snelling for several hours Sunday evening and replaced with bus service. Regular rail service resumed Monday morning.

Metro Transit police continue to investigate the crash.

Howie Smith lives about 100 yards from the Blue Line. He was at home with his windows open watching the Tony Awards on TV when he heard a long blast from the train’s horn, followed by “a blood curdling yell.”

He said he knew the victim was not going to make it.

No one else was injured in the crash, Zoss said.

The 42nd Street intersection is outfitted with flashing lights and crossing arms that lower across the roadway to alert motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians about the presence of a train.

It was not immediately clear if the crossing arms were down.

Smith said he’d been running errands earlier in the day. He was driving home and was stopped at the 42nd Street crossing about 1:30 p.m. when a train passed.

When the arms retracted, he said the arm over the eastbound lanes of 42nd jiggled as it kept going up and down. Eventually the arm stayed up, but looked like it twisted away and was no longer parallel with the tracks.

“It was no longer in position to block traffic,” Smith said. “It would have hung over the tracks.”

Smith reported the malfunction to Metro Transit, then didn’t think anything more about it until he heard the victim’s scream and sirens.

“It haunted me all night,” Smith said.

Patak’s death is the 19th on the Blue Line since trains began running in 2004. Bicyclists have accounted for five of the fatalities, Metro Transit said.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life and our hearts go out to the deceased’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” the agency said in a statement.