St. Paul, MN — A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded early Sunday morning in St. Paul, where a young woman lost her life after becoming trapped in a burning vehicle following a single-car crash.

St. Paul police were called to the intersection of Arlington Avenue East and Prosperity Avenue around 3:25 a.m. When officers arrived, they found a car off the roadway on a grassy area, its front end heavily damaged and the vehicle fully engulfed in flames.

Inside, 26-year-old Qiara Gleason, of St. Paul, was trapped in the front passenger seat. First responders attempted to reach her, but the flames prevented rescue efforts. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, who had escaped the car, told officers she had desperately tried to pull Gleason from the wreck but was unable to do so as the fire spread. She was transported to Regions Hospital with injuries that were described as non-life-threatening.

Authorities say the driver was cooperative and provided a statement to investigators. A search warrant was obtained for a blood draw as part of the standard procedure in serious crashes.

The crash remains under investigation.

News of Gleason’s death has left family, friends, and the community deeply shaken. Loved ones describe her as warm, joyful, and full of life — someone whose presence could brighten any room.

As investigators continue their work, the community mourns a life gone far too soon.