Sandstone, MN – A Pine County man is facing felony charges after a hit-and-run incident on Monday, February 10, 2025, left a 31-year-old bicyclist dead along County Highway 61 near Sandstone, MN.
Suspect & Charges
👤 Suspect: Eddie Ray Eiffler (62)
📍 Location: Pine County, MN
📄 Charges Filed:
- Felony Criminal Vehicular Homicide – Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Crash
- Felony Criminal Vehicular Homicide – Gross Negligence
🛑 Maximum Penalty: 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine per charge
Crash & Investigation Details
🔹 8:06 a.m. – February 10, 2025: Witnesses reported seeing a white Dodge pickup truck with a red snowplow strike bicyclist Tyler Michael Spooner on the shoulder of County Highway 61 near Sandstone.
🔹 The truck appeared to be using the shoulder to pass another vehicle, according to witnesses.
🔹 Spooner suffered life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, where he died the next day.
Surveillance & Arrest
🔹 Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from a Casey’s convenience store near the crash site, which captured the suspect’s vehicle traveling eastbound at the time of the incident.
🔹 A Pine County sergeant identified the truck as belonging to Eiffler, whose home was near the crash scene.
🔹 Deputies found the truck at another residence in Sandstone, belonging to Eiffler’s nephew.
🔹 Physical evidence on the truck included:
- A broken snowplow light
- Green paint transfer from the victim’s bicycle
- Shattered glass inside the light housing
- DNA samples collected from the steering wheel & gear shifter
Court Appearance & Bail
🔹 Eiffler was arrested and charged with two counts of felony criminal vehicular homicide.
🔹 He made his first court appearance on February 12, 2025.
🔹 Bail was set at $50,000 unconditional, or $25,000 with conditions prohibiting him from driving or using drugs/alcohol.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, and Eiffler remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.
🔎 Stay updated on this developing case by following TRF News.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for TRF News