Lee Defoe Fatally Struck in Pembina Township Accident

On July 18, 2025, at approximately 06:27, a fatal incident occurred on Highway 59 near Mile Marker 298 in Pembina Township, Mahnomen County. Lee Edmond Defoe, a 40-year-old male from Waubun, Minnesota, was walking southbound on the highway when he was struck by a 2008 GMC Sierra traveling in the same direction. The vehicle was driven by Zachary John Mehr, a 39-year-old male from Saint Cloud, Minnesota. Defoe sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, while Mehr, who was wearing a seatbelt, reported no injuries. The road conditions were reported as "other," and alcohol was not a contributing factor in the collision.