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Laurel-Lee Wirtz, provides a rose to the memorial to her late husband Steve Wirtz throughout a vigil for him in St. Paul on Saturday Dec. 30, 2023. Steve Wirtz and the {couples} almost 2-year-old German shepherd, Gunther, have been killed by a automotive on Christmas Eve evening after crossing Maryland Ave. at a crosswalk darkened by copper wire thieves. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Friends and household of Steve Wirtz, a St. Paul man who was struck and killed whereas crossing a road darkened by copper wire theft, held a candlelight vigil for him Saturday night on the intersection the place he died.
Wirtz, 64, and his 2-year-old German shepherd, Gunther, have been killed shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday — Christmas Eve — whereas they have been out for a fast walk of their North End neighborhood.
The 45-year-old driver who hit Wirtz and Gunther cooperated with authorities on the scene. The stretch of Maryland Avenue just lately acquired a brand new pedestrian median, freshly painted crosswalk, signage and bump-outs designed to make it safer for pedestrians, however a brand new streetlight at Park Street was not linked as a result of its copper wiring had been stolen, metropolis officers stated.
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Ramsey County officers issued statements of condolence, with Carter calling for “state policy to help prevent tragedies like this in the future.” Carter additionally attended Saturday’s vigil for Wirtz.
