Investigation Underway After Pedestrian Fatality South of Mahnomen — Driver in Custody
Mahnomen County, MN — The Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed a tragic incident that unfolded early Friday morning, July 18, leaving the community shaken. The body of 40-year-old Lee Edmond Defoe of Waubun, Minnesota, was discovered lying in a roadside ditch near the intersection of Highway 59 and 160th Avenue, approximately two miles south of Mahnomen.
Authorities received the call shortly after 6:00 a.m., reporting a man found unresponsive in the ditch. Responding deputies quickly arrived on the scene, where they pronounced Defoe dead. Evidence at the scene suggested that he had been struck by a vehicle in what appears to be a car-versus-pedestrian crash.
A short time later, law enforcement located the suspected vehicle abandoned along 160 Avenue North. The driver, identified as 39-year-old Zachary John Mehr of St. Cloud, Minnesota, was apprehended and is currently in custody as the investigation moves forward.
The circumstances surrounding the incident — including how and why the crash occurred, whether impairment or foul play was involved, and the events leading up to Defoe’s death — remain under active investigation. The Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the White Earth Police Department and the Minnesota State Patrol, is working diligently to gather all available facts.
The death of Lee Edmond Defoe has cast a shadow over both the Waubun and Mahnomen communities. Defoe was known to many as a local resident with deep ties to the area. The nature of this tragedy — a man’s life lost on a rural roadside — has left friends, family, and neighbors mourning and searching for answers.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement agencies are urging anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward. Community cooperation is critical in helping authorities determine the full story behind this devastating loss.
This tragic event serves as a somber reminder of the dangers pedestrians face and the importance of driver vigilance and responsibility on the roads. It also highlights the ongoing need for community support in times of loss and uncertainty.
The Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office has promised transparency as the case progresses and has committed to sharing further updates as more details become available.
Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to Lee Edmond Defoe’s family and loved ones as they navigate this painful time. May they find strength in the support of their community and may justice follow swiftly as the investigation unfolds.