The Minnesota Senate passed a bill this week in the the wake of a Chisago Lakes family’s tragedy.
Back in January, 8-year-old Alan Geisenkoetter Jr. was killed ice fishing on Chisago Lake by an intoxicated snowmobiler.
The senate’s bill now applies DWI laws to snowmobiles and ATV’s
Original story:
The family of the 8-year-old boy who died last week after being hit by a snowmobile on Chisago Lake is calling for a law change.
Alan Geisenkoetter Jr. died in medical care late last week after a man who admitted to drinking before operating a snowmobile crashed into the boy and his father. 45-year-old Eric Coleman was arrested and charged in the crash. Court documents then revealed that Coleman’s license had previously been revoked.
Now, the Geisenkoetter family is hoping lawmakers will take a second glance at the current laws in place surrounding who exactly is allowed to operate the machines.
In Minnesota a current and valid driver's license is not required to operate a snowmobile. In an interview from KSTP, the boy's mother thinks a law change is in order.
"I think the laws in Minnesota should be harsher than they are," Ellie Geisenkoetter said. "There's no reason he should've been on a motor vehicle."
Coleman is now facing new charges after the boy's passing: criminal vehicular homicide, criminal vehicular operation and drunken driving.
