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Hundreds gather to remember boy, 8, killed by snowmobiler

Joshua and Lauren Swindle were so moved by the tragedy that they wanted to help - even though they had never met the family.

CHISAGO CITY, Minn. - Eight-year-old Alan Geisenkoetter Jr. was hit by a snowmobile on Chisago Lake back on Jan. 31 when he was with his parents setting up a portable fish house.

"I mean it was so fast, he took a couple steps forward to take a peek through the back of the truck and the guy hit him," says Alan Jr.’s mother, Ellie Geisenkoetter.

He died five days later from his injuries.

Joshua and Lauren Swindle were so moved by the tragedy that they wanted to help - even though they had never met the family.

"We don't know them actually at all. It was just something where we saw it and felt obligated to do something," Lauren Swindle says.

They posted about hosting a benefit on Chisago Lake, and the the event invite was shared hundreds of times. Dozens of volunteers pitched in to help put it all together.

Hundreds gathered on Chisago Lake Saturday to remember Alan Geisenkoetter, Jr., 8, who was killed by a snowmobiler on Jan. 31. (Photo: KARE 11)

"I've got a son who is a year different than Alan Jr., so this really kind of hit close to home," Joe Hasslebauer said.

The benefit, silent auction and fishing tournament was expected to raise thousands of dollars for the family to help with funeral expenses and anything else they might be dealing with after the loss of their son.

The driver of the snowmobile, 45-year-old Eric Coleman, was brought to the hospital with a broken arm and other injuries after the crash. He's now been charged with criminal vehicular homicide.

Prosecutors say Coleman had three previous alcohol-related license revocations, including one related to a crash he was involved in on Nov. 2, 2017. After that incident, Coleman's blood alcohol concentration was measured at .30, nearly four times the legal limit.

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