MAHNOMEN, MN — The Minnesota State Patrol has identified the victim of a tragic hit-and-run incident as 40-year-old Lee Edmond Defoe of Waubun. Early Friday morning, July 18, 2025, Defoe was found deceased in a ditch along Highway 59, approximately two miles south of Mahnomen, near the intersection with 160th Avenue. Authorities determined that Defoe had been struck by a vehicle while walking southbound on the highway.
The Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office located the suspect vehicle, a GMC, abandoned on 160th Avenue, just north of the crash site. Following a swift investigation, 39-year-old Zachary Mehr of St. Cloud was identified as the driver and arrested later that morning. Mehr is currently in custody, though specific charges have not yet been publicly disclosed as the investigation continues to explore factors such as speed, distraction, or impairment.
Details surrounding the incident remain limited. Authorities have not confirmed how long Defoe’s body lay in the ditch before being discovered at approximately 6:10 a.m., nor have they determined whether he was walking along the shoulder or crossing the highway at the time of the crash. The Minnesota State Patrol, Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office, and White Earth Police Department are collaborating to establish a clear timeline of events and the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
The loss of Lee Defoe has deeply affected the Mahnomen community, prompting reflection on the risks pedestrians face on rural highways with limited lighting and narrow shoulders. Community members are grieving and calling for justice, urging anyone with information to come forward. Authorities encourage witnesses or individuals with details about the crash to contact the Minnesota State Patrol or the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office.
As the investigation progresses, the focus remains on uncovering the full details of the incident and ensuring accountability for those responsible.