A Sandstone man has been charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide after a hit-and-run crash that resulted in the death of a cyclist on Monday.
According to the criminal complaint, Pine County Sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched to a personal injury hit-and-run accident on County Highway 61, near the intersection of United Country Court in Sandstone, just after 8 a.m. on Feb. 10.
The report stated that a white truck with a snow plow hit a pedestrian on a bicycle before continuing into Sandstone.
Deputies found 31-year-old Tyler Spooner lying in the road with what appeared to be life-threatening injuries. He was transported to a hospital in Duluth before later dying of his injuries on Feb. 11.
Multiple witnesses told authorities that the truck with the plow drove onto the shoulder to hit Spooner, who was cycling on the ditch side of the fog line.
One witness said it appeared the truck hit the pedestrian intentionally, and that almost the entire truck crossed the fog line.
Law enforcement was able to determine that the truck belonged to Sandstone resident Eddie Eiffler, and were able to match his vehicle to the one in the incident based on the same toolbox in the truck.
"The vehicle was located first, that same day," said Pine County Sheriff Jeff Nelson. "The driver turned themselves in the next day."
A search warrant for the truck was executed, and authorities located insurance and registration documents for Eiffler in the vehicle.
Green paint on the bottom of the plow appeared to be the same color of the bike Spooner was riding when he was hit.
