Crime & Safety

Truck Driver Skips Sentencing; Pleaded Guilty to Crash That Killed Maple Grove Woman

The defendant missed his scheduled court date last week, officials said.

The semitrailer driver in a crash that killed a Maple Grove resident failed to appear in court for his sentencing last week, postponing the date by more than two weeks.

Lyle Dean Geiselhart, 57, of Fargo, pleaded guilty in May to an amended misdemeanor charge of failure to drive with due care and traveling at a speed greater than reasonable for road conditions, according to the Monticello Times. Charges stem from a March 2015 Interstate 94 crash that killed Holly Hoglund Klein, of Maple Grove.

"Wright County prosecuting attorney Shane Simonds said the defendant ... failed to do his pre-sentence investigation prior to the sentencing and failed to appear July 25 … 'claiming he thought his court date was July 28,'" the story said.

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A new sentencing date has been set for Aug. 11.

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