Bail increased in Chisago Lake snowmobiling crash that killed 8-year-old Minnesota boy

Image 1 of 3

▼

Alan Geisenkoetter, 8, was struck by a snowmobile and later died of his injuries.

CHISAGO COUNTY, Minn. (KMSP) - A Chisago County, Minnesota judge has increased bail to $125,000 for alleged drunk snowmobiler Eric Coleman in an incident that claimed the life of 8-year-old Alan Geisenkoetter. Coleman, 45, allegedly had a BAC of .165 three hours after the deadly snowmobile crash. He has until Monday, Feb. 12 to come up with the additional bail.

After the child passed away from his injuries, Coleman’s charges were upgraded to include a count of criminal vehicular homicide.

Fox 9's Paul Blume was in court for Friday's bail hearing and confronted Coleman.

The Geisenkoetter family has called for swift and severe punishment for Coleman, who recently had his motor vehicle license suspended for a separate drunk driving crash and arrest. They’d also like to see the snowmobile operating laws toughened for those operating under the influence.

Eleanor and Alan Geisenkoetter called their son “Little Alan.” They had plans to take their first Disney trip this winter.

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

On Friday Jan 26, the Geisenkoetters were out on Chisago Lake, which is about 50 minutes northeast of Minneapolis. Alan, Sr. 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,” Geisenkoetter said. “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 five days later.

“According to doctors, they were going on hope when he came in,” Geisenkoetter said. “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.”

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.