Lee Defoe Obituary, Death – The Minnesota State Patrol has released the identity of a man who was killed after being hit by a vehicle while walking near Mahnomen. The victim, identified as 40-year-old Lee Defoe, was discovered deceased Friday morning in a roadside ditch along Highway 59, approximately two miles south of Mahnomen. Authorities believe Defoe had been struck by a vehicle, which then left the scene.
Following the discovery of the body, the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office located an abandoned vehicle believed to be involved in the incident. The car was found just north of where Defoe’s body had been located. After further investigation, authorities identified 39-year-old Zachary Mehr of St. Cloud as the suspected driver of the vehicle.
Mehr was tracked down and taken into custody later that same morning. Details about the charges he may face or the circumstances leading up to the incident have not yet been released. The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement works to determine what exactly happened and whether additional factors, such as impairment or speed, played a role.
Officials have not confirmed how long Defoe had been in the ditch before he was found or whether anyone witnessed the collision. It is also unclear if Defoe was walking along the shoulder of the road or attempted to cross the highway when he was hit.
Authorities are continuing to gather evidence and interview witnesses to piece together a full timeline of events. In the meantime, the community is left mourning the sudden and tragic death of Defoe, while awaiting answers in a case that underscores the dangers pedestrians face on rural highways, especially during nighttime or low-visibility hours.
The Minnesota State Patrol and Mahnomen County officials have asked anyone with additional information about the incident or who may have seen the vehicle prior to the crash to come forward and assist in the investigation.
More details are expected as the case progresses and formal charges are brought against Mehr.
