A Mandan Man Will Avoid Prison Time Despite Fatal Hit & Run

I was watching WDAY-TV news at 6 pm last night when a story caught my eye. A Mandan man will avoid prison time despite being the driver in a fatal hit-and-run case last winter.

Distracted Driving

It appears this was a case of distracted driving that led to the death of Jerson Mejia, 27, of Honduras, when he was struck by 22-year-old Mandan, North Dakota, resident Garret Kuntz. This happened back on December 21st of 2025, on Interstate 94 near Valley City, North Dakota. According to the news report on TV, phone records show that Kuntz was on Snapchat when he struck the victim. According to court documents, Kuntz told law enforcement that he believed he struck a deer, and that's why he kept driving. He also admitted he was likely using his phone during the time of the crash.

The Initial Charges

Knutz was charged with manslaughter and duty in an accident involving death or injury. This carries up to a 10-year maximum prison sentence and a $20,000 fine.

The Plea Agreement

In somewhat of a surprising decision by the prosecutor, Kuntz was offered a plea agreement that included No Jail Time, which is atypical for a case involving a fatality. Knutz must also perform 1,000 hours of community service over three years. The deal is dependent upon whether the judge accepts it. If the judge rejects it, Kuntz has the right to withdraw his guilty plea and take the case to trial. According to the Barnes County State's Attorney, Tanya Duffy, the goal is to require the defendant to "give backfor what he has taken."

The change of plea and formal sentencing hearing will be held in the Barnes County District Court and has yet to be scheduled.