A routine box-truck run to St. Paul turned deadly at a rural Stearns County intersection, and now the driver is staring down a felony charge.
Prosecutors charged a St. Paul man on March 24 with criminal vehicular homicide after a box truck failed to stop at a sign and slammed into a motorcyclist near Sauk Centre. The crash killed 63-year-old Todd Curtis Thorstad of Glenwood, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities say the collision happened on Sept. 25, 2025, at the intersection of Highway 28 and Highway 71 and also involved a pickup truck. The case is now moving toward an April court hearing.
Charges and court date
Prosecutors have charged 33-year-old Ramon Jesus Garcia Rangel with criminal vehicular homicide, according to KSTP. The outlet reports that Rangel remains out of custody and is scheduled for his first court appearance on April 20.
The criminal complaint states Rangel was driving a box truck en route to St. Paul when the collision occurred and notes that a conviction could carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Crash reports and scene
The Minnesota State Patrol incident log shows the collision happened around 8:51 a.m. and involved a 2025 Freightliner straight truck, a 1997 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado.
Local reporting from the West Central Tribune, which reviewed the state patrol's crash report, identified the motorcyclist as Thorstad of Glenwood. According to authorities, the motorcycle was stopped at a stop sign behind a pickup when the box truck hit the bike and then the pickup. Thorstad died at the scene.
What charging documents allege
Per the criminal complaint detailed by KSTP, Rangel was driving between 62 and 67 mph in a posted 60 mph zone and told police he did not see the stop sign.
The complaint says Rangel admitted to listening to music in the cab and that dash-cam footage showed him bouncing in his seat shortly before impact. Prosecutors highlight those details in the charging documents as part of their narrative of what went wrong at the intersection.
Possible penalties
Criminal vehicular homicide is a felony in Minnesota that can carry a prison term of up to 10 years, per state law. The statute outlining the offense and potential penalties appears in Minnesota Statutes 609.2112. Prosecutors and defense attorneys will have a chance to argue evidence and bond conditions at the April court hearing.
Local response and next steps
Responding agencies listed in the state patrol entry include Sauk Centre Police, Sauk Centre Fire, and local ambulance services. The patrol record notes Thorstad was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Investigators say the matter remains under review as county and state officials process court filings. The first public hearing is set for April 20, when prosecutors plan to formally present the charging documents and any supporting evidence as the case moves forward through the Stearns County courts.
