Joseph Schneider, 21, of Annandale made his first court appearance Tuesday in 10th District Court in Buffalo on two felony counts stemming from leaving the scene of accident that killed Alexander Hilsgen, 24, of Clearwater.

Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes filed charging documents with the court prior to the hearing. 

Accident Re-cap

On July 15, 2023, at 1:35 a.m. Sgt. McMackins, (assisted by several patrol deputies) was dispatched to an injury crash near Camp Friendship located at 10509 108th Street NW in Corinna Township, Wright County. The initial report was that a male had fallen out of a truck and was struck by it. The driver of the truck fled the area. When law enforcement arrived, a male, subsequently identified as Alexander Jack Hilsgen, was laying in the westbound lane of traffic near the main parking lot for Camp Friendship. 

First responders with the Annandale Fire Department and Allina EMS were rendering medical care to Hilsgen when Sgt. McMackins observed that Hilsgen had sustained obvious signs of significant trauma from his head to his pelvis. Hilsgen was bleeding from several locations on his head. Deputy Davis learned there were approximately 10 witnesses to this incident. 

Detective Kenyon arrived to assist with the investigation. The witnesses were identified and provided statements to law enforcement. Deputy Davis informed Sgt. McMackins it appeared from initial witness statements that Hilsgen had been in the bed of the truck and jumped out while the truck was still moving. A LifeLink helicopter landed on scene and assisted with lifesaving efforts. Despite lifesaving efforts, Hilsgen was pronounced deceased.

The investigation revealed a group of camp counselors from Camp Friendship had been drinking at a local bar in Annandale. An unknown individual in a white truck gave the camp counselors a ride back to camp. Hilsgen was not associated with Camp Friendship but tagged along for the ride. Hilsgen and six others were in the bed of the pickup. A witness sitting in the truck bed with Hilsgen said his hat had blown out of the truck. Hilsgen commented he needed to go get his hat just prior to jumping out of the moving truck. 

A female witness in the bed of the truck tried to prevent Hilsgen from jumping from the truck by grabbing him but was unable to stop him. A witness described feeling a big bump after Hilsgen had jumped from the truck. Two individuals were in the cab of the truck with the adult male driver. A witness in the cab said the driver commented about thinking he had hit a person after the bump. The distance from the bar to Camp Friendship is approximately eight miles.

Detective Kenyon was interviewing witnesses and obtained a description of the suspect including his clothing. Annandale Police Officer Faust went to the bar and located a person matching the description of the suspect on video surveillance. Staff at the bar provided a credit card receipt in the name of Joseph Schneider. Staff said the suspect was drinking mixed drinks. The receipt was $28 with staff indicating the tab consisted of six mixed drinks. Deputies were able to identify the suspect by using his name and comparing the surveillance video images with DVS records as Joseph Wesley Schneider, DOB: 08/24/2001, defendant herein. 

Sgt. McMackins went to the defendant’s trailer park residence in Annandale and observed a white Dodge Ram truck parked in the driveway. Sgt. McMackins knocked on the door of the residence at 6:10 a.m. A male answered the door and was identified as the defendant. The defendant said he had been drinking at a bar in Annandale last night. The defendant recalled drinking three mixed drinks. The defendant said he was talking with some people from Camp Friendship at the end of the night. The defendant said he gave a group of people from Camp Friendship a ride home in his truck. The defendant denied hitting anything while driving them home. 

Sgt. McMackins smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the defendant. A search warrant was obtained authorizing the taking of a blood sample from the defendant. A blood sample was obtained from the defendant at the hospital and was sent to the crime lab for analysis. When Deputy Tester transported the defendant to the hospital for the blood draw, he spontaneously asked how law enforcement was able to find him as he didn’t give contact information to the Camp Friendship counselors. The defendant also said he went home and had six drinks indicating he will be over the legal limit.

Detective Kenyon interviewed the defendant after advising him of his rights. The defendant denied knowing he had struck Alexander Hilsgen.

Detective Kenyon obtained surveillance video from Camp Friendship. The surveillance video captures the incident where the defendant ran over Alexander Hilsgen. A loud bang is heard on the video and the lights from a white truck change direction. The white truck then comes into the parking lot. The video shows the driver run from the truck to the roadway. The driver then runs back to the truck and drives away. A person is heard saying to call 911 on the video. 

It appears from the video the defendant exited the truck and went back to where Alexander Hilsgen was in the roadway before driving away. The defendant did not notify the police of the injury to Hilsgen. The defendant did not remain at the location to give his name or driver’s license information.

A preliminary summary from the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office indicated Hilsgen died from multiple blunt force injuries from being run over by a vehicle.

Consequences

Schneider is facing two felony counts including failing to stop in a traffic collision and failure to notify police of a personal injury or death. For each count, Schneider is facing a maximum sentence of three years in jail or a $5,000 fine or both.