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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth - Police Department
Mike Ceynowa, Chief of Police
2030 North Arlington Avenue • Duluth, Minnesota 55811 • www.duluthmn.gov
For more information contact:
Public Information Officer, Mattie Hjelseth at (218) 730-5434 or mhjelseth@duluthmn.gov
DATE: 11/4/2009
SUBJECT: Suspect Arrested in Hit/Run
BY: Officer Brad Wick, Information Coordinator

NATURE OF INCIDENT: Arrest made in Hit and Run
CASE NO.: 09389280
INCIDENT DATE: 10/31/2009
INCIDENT TIME: 0234 hours
INCIDENT LOCATION: 2200 Block of Rice Lake Road

Duluth Police have arrested a 27 year old Duluth woman in last weekends Personal Injury Pedestrian/Motor Vehicle Hit and Run Crash.
 
Today, Wednesday, November 04, 2009, at 3:42 PM, Duluth Police Crash Investigators arrested Julie Ann Gronski, age 27 of Duluth, in Saturday’s Personal Injury Pedestrian/Motor Vehicle Hit and Run Crash that critically injured 18 year old Alexander Balluff.  Gronski is currently being held at the St. Louis County Jail pending formal charges for:
 
·   Felony criminal vehicular operation resulting in great bodily harm
·   Felony hit-and-run resulting in great bodily harm,
·   Gross Misdemeanor criminal vehicle operation resulting in bodily harm
·   Gross misdemeanor hit-and-run resulting in bodily harm,
·   Driving after suspension, and
·   Careless Driving

On Saturday, October 31, 2009, at 2:34 AM, Duluth Police responded to a personal injury pedestrian/motor vehicle hit and run crash in the 2200 block of Rice Lake Road. Balluff was walking south on the shoulder with three friends when he and one of the others were struck by a newer black SUV that was also headed south. After striking the two, the vehicle left the scene and continued south on the Rice Lake Road. Balluff remains in Critical Condition in Intensive Care Unit at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. The second individual struck suffered an injury to his elbow.

With the help of the media getting the information out and citizens calling in tips, police located the damaged black 2006 Honda CRV belonging to Gronski.  Physical evidence links the damaged vehicle to the crash.

At this time no further details are available. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. 

The Duluth Police Department would like to thank both the media and the public for their help with this Hit and Run Crash investigation.