An attorney from Lakeville was identified Thursday as the person killed Wednesday after his car drove off Hwy. 100 in Edina and crashed during evening rush hour, the Minnesota State Patrol said.

Justin D. Johnson died at Hennepin County Medical Center after his westbound sedan left the highway at W. 77th Street. His car hit the highway guardrail twice, went off the road and up a hill, and hit the concrete side of a bridge, the patrol said.

The single-car accident involving the 2009 Audi A8 was reported just after 5:30 p.m. The patrol said he wasn't wearing his seat belt but his air bag deployed.

Johnson was a wealth management and estate planning attorney for the law firm Stoel Rives, which has offices in Minneapolis and other parts of the nation.

A partner in the firm, he was selected as a "rising star" by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine for the years 2007-12.

His colleagues issued a statement Thursday expressing deep sadness at Johnson's death and condolences for his loved ones.

"He was an exceptional colleague, a tremendous lawyer, and a friend to us all," the statement said. "He will be greatly missed."

Johnson earned degrees from St. Cloud University and William Mitchell College of Law.

JOY POWELL