Driver kills pedestrian in Moose Lake

A 21-year-old man from Pengilly, Minnesota was arrested for criminal vehicular homicide Thursday, March 21 after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle in Moose Lake. The Carlton County Sheriff’s Office said Brent Keranen was transported to the Carlton County jail. Responders believed that alcohol impairment was a contributing factor in the incident that occurred just after 2 p.m.

The sheriff’s office said reports from staff at the Minnesota Corrections Facility came in about a pedestrian, Justin McNeil, 61, of Moose Lake, laying in the ditch off Minnesota Highway 73 and Jon Brown Drive. Deputies and the Moose Lake police chief found McNeil, and prison staff offering aid. Moose Lake fire and Essentia Health medical staff arrived and tried to resuscitate McNeil but he died at the scene of the crash.

A short time later, Keranen was located and detained. Eyewitnesses identified him as the driver. Keranen was cited in January and later found guilty of using his phone using Snapchat to communicate with his girlfriend while driving in Chisago County.

Keranen had a bail hearing on March 22 and is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Carlton County district court on April 1. He was not on the jail roster posted on Monday of this week.

Find more on this story in the upcoming Pine Knot News.