Family grips with loss after son fatally hit by snowmobile

CHISAGO COUNTY, Minn. (KMSP) - A Chisago County family is mourning the loss of an eight-year-old boy, who was hit and killed by a snowmobile driver now charged with criminal vehicular homicide and driving under the influence.

Eleanor and Alan Geisenkoetter are numb after saying goodbye to their precious son, Alan Geisenkoetter Jr. They called him “Little Alan.” The Geisenkoetters originally had plans to take their first Disney trip in the coming days. Instead, the dream vacation is off and now they’re planning a funeral.

“Emotionally crushed,” said Alan Geisenkoetter Sr. “It’s tough man. He was my everything. I don’t know what to say.”

“He was a very special kid,” said Eleanor.

Last Friday evening, the Geisenkoetters were out on Chisago Lake, which is about 50 minutes northeast of Minneapolis. The father was setting up for a night of fishing when a snowmobiler grazed the back end of their pickup, plowing directly into their ice house. Little Alan was right in the path and his father suffered some physical injuries of his own.

“I just heard a snowmobile at a high rate of speed that I thought would pass so close to us,” said Alan Geisenkoetter Sr. “That’s the last thing I remember before the house blew up. It exploded.”

The parents say their boy was dragged across the ice about 100 feet. He suffered a devastating brain injury as well as numerous broken bones. Little Alan passed away on Wednesday.

“According to doctors, they were going on hope when he came in,” said Alan Geisenkoetter Sr. “Apparently he moved his arm and that’s what was going on. But they told us with that type of injury, they don’t typically leave the hospital. Unfortunately, he didn’t either.”

Investigators believe the man driving the snowmobile, Eric Coleman, was under the influence of alcohol. The 45-year-old has a history of driving drunk and license revocation. The Geisenkoetters told Fox 9 they want the legal system to come down hard.

“With Super Bowl coming up – drink, that’s fine,” said Alan Geisenkoetter Sr. “But God, do not get behind the wheel. There is no possible way that should happen. I don’t want my story to be anyone else.”

As they grieve, the family’s spirit is being lifted by the love, prayers and donations coming in over the last few days. They are collecting donations on a GoFundMe site and a CaringBridge page.