UPDATED: Burnsville Cab Driver Dies in Massive Pileup on 494 West

Updated at 8:59 p.m.

A Burnsville man is dead after a pre-dawn pileup on Interstate 494 West.

Cab driver Nadir I. Ombabi, 57, was killed in multi-car crash near France Avenue. The accident began when an unlicensed motorist driving a minivan ran out of gas and stalled on the busy freeway. The stall sparked a chain reaction that ultimately drew in seven vehicles, including a tanker truck. In all, eight people were involved, the Pioneer Press reports. One other person was injured in the collision—David B. Paul, 64, of Minneapolis. He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Authorities shut down the freeway to allow the reconstruction team to investigate. The interstate reopened at about 9:15 a.m. 

The Minnesota State Patrol has identified the driver of the minivan as Isidoro B. Corona, 49, of Minneapolis. He is currently booked into the Hennepin County Jail.

According to an article in the Star Tribune, Omabi was a native of Sudan who had trained to be a phsyician in his home country. He had been employed by Northstar Taxi for five years.

"He was a very, very good driver," Owner Gamal Eshmawy told the Star Tribune.

"He was very, very polite; a very nice person," Eshmawy said. "It's really, really sad."

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner has attributed Omabi's death to multiple blunt force injuries.

To read the full text of the article in the Star Tribune, click here.