21-year-old Montrose man admitted to using heroin before fatal stolen truck crash in Becker, state charges

St. Cloud, Minnesota. — A 21-year-old Montrose man faces decades in prison in connection with a fatal crash involving a stolen pickup truck in central Minnesota earlier this month.

According to the Sherburne County District Attorney’s Office, the man was charged with seven felony counts following the July 7 multi-vehicle crash in Becker: two counts each of criminal negligence and eluding police, and one count of receiving stolen goods.

He is also accused of two counts of reckless driving.

According to court documents, the suspect admitted to authorities that he had used heroin before the crash. The crash seriously injured a man identified on a GoFundMe page as Chris Vyskocil, who reportedly died eight days later.

According to the indictment, police and officers discovered a stolen Ram truck in St. Cloud. The truck’s owner was able to track the vehicle and provide information to authorities.

A chase lasting about 20 minutes ensued on Highway 10, with the truck and police reaching speeds of over 100 miles per hour in the town of Becker.

The lawsuit states that the truck eventually collided with Vyskocil’s vehicle near the Speedway gas station at the corner of Highway 10 and Liberty Lane. Vyskocil’s vehicle then collided with an SUV.

Vyskocil suffered severe traumatic brain injury and was flown to hospital by helicopter, while the other driver suffered minor injuries.

A witness outside the gas station told authorities he heard the impact and then saw the truck “coming toward him at a speed he estimated to be 50 to 60 miles per hour” before ramming his vehicle near a gas pump, the complaint states. The witness was not injured.

At the scene, the suspect reportedly told authorities he was under the influence of heroin and had drugs and paraphernalia on him, court documents say. The results of a blood test were not released.

In a statement posted online, Vyskocil’s wife Brittany asked the community for “love and support” for the long road ahead.

“Because Chris was the victim of such a horrific crime, the process of getting justice will be long and arduous. We will need love and support in the long run,” said Brittany Vyskocil.

If convicted, the suspect faces more than 40 years in prison.