Fatal Pedestrian Accident on I-494 in Fort Snelling Claims Life of Cynthia Finnell

On the evening of April 5, 2025, at approximately 8:44 PM, a tragic incident unfolded on eastbound Interstate 494 near 34th Avenue in Fort Snelling, Hennepin County, Minnesota. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, 66-year-old Cynthia Finnell of Bloomington, Minnesota, attempted to cross the eastbound lanes of I-494 when she was struck by a 2013 Ford Explorer. The vehicle was driven by 49-year-old Brandon Kenneth Urban of Lakeville, Minnesota, who was traveling in the right lane west of 34th Avenue at the time of the collision.

The road conditions were reported as dry, and Urban, who was wearing a seatbelt, sustained no injuries; no airbags were deployed in his vehicle. Tragically, Finnell suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Bloomington Police and Airport Police provided assistance at the location of the incident.