VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NDHP) – The North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) is thanking the public for their response to a request for information related to the arrest of the party responsible for a hit and run fatality in Barnes County back on December 21st 2025.
According to a news release, the Highway Patrol received information from an anonymous tip and ultimately located a 2001 Ford F-250 with evidence linking it to the fatal pedestrian hit and run crash.
The suspect, 22-year-old Garret Kuntz of Mandan, has been identified as the driver. Charges have been submitted to the Barnes County State’s Attorney’s Office for a review of formal charges. More details about this case are pending following the outcome of Barnes County State’s Attorney review.
The Highway Patrol identified the man killed during that hit and run incident on Interstate 94 west of Valley City on Sunday, December 21st as 27-year-old Jerson Mejia of Honduras. The crash remains under investigation.
The original news release issued to the media last year.
“On Saturday, December 20, 2025, dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting a pedestrian walking along Interstate 94. Law enforcement made contact with the man and he declined assistance. Additional calls continued to be received throughout the evening, with the last report to dispatch occurring at approximately 10:55 p.m. On Sunday, December 21, 2025, at approximately 2:30 p.m., a passerby observed a body in the ditch and called 911. The North Dakota Highway Patrol and the Barnes County Sheriff’s Office responded and observed pieces of a vehicle consistent with a hit-and-run and located the pedestrian deceased in the same area. The NDHP is asking for the public’s assistance looking for a vehicle with new damage that would have been in the area during the late-night hours of Saturday, December 20, 2025, or the early morning hours of Sunday, December 21, 2025. A large portion of a vehicle’s bug deflector was found damaged and left at the scene. There may also be damage to the front and/or passenger side.”
“Based on evidence recovered at the scene, the vehicle is believed to have damage to the front bumper and passenger-side front quarter panel. A bug deflector was located and pieced back together; a photograph of the reconstructed bug deflector is included with this release. NDHP believes a black plastic 7-inch by 4-inch piece may be missing from behind the bumper on the passenger-side front quarter panel. Additionally, a 1-inch chrome-colored piece may be missing from the headlight assembly.”