Stillwater Man Injured after Being Struck by Vehicle at Owens and Myrtle

A 76-year-old Stillwater man was transported to Lakeview Hospital last week after being stuck by a vehicle while he was walking in the crosswalk at the intersection of Owens and Myrtle streets.

When police arrived on the scene just before 8 a.m. on Sept. 20, Raymond James Kolodzieski was lying in the roadway at the crosswalk complaining of pain on his left side from his shoulder to his lower leg, according to the crash report.

The driver of the vehicle, Paula Ann Aho, 52, of Stillwater, told police she was traveling eastbound on Myrtle Street and came to a complete stop at the intersection. Aho reportedly entered the intersection to continue eastbound, and didn’t see anyone in the intersection at that time.

Aho told police because of the time of day—the sunrise was in her direct line of vision—she had a difficult time seeing and did not notice Kolodzieski until he was right in front of her vehicle and she was unable to avoid striking him.

When she struck Kolodzieski, Aho told police he “kind of flipped around and fell to the ground.” Aho told police she immediately stopped her vehicle, got out and immediately began rendering aid to Kolodzieski.

Kolodzieski told police he stepped off the curb—in the crosswalk attempting to cross Myrtle at Owens—just after another vehicle had passed when he was struck by Aho’s vehicle. Kolodzieski told police the sun was at a level that may have been blinding to eastbound drivers.

No charges are pending as a result of the crash; and no citations were issued.