MAPLEWOOD, Minn. — As families across the country are gearing up for the holiday season, 56-year-old Mark Koepke’s family is hoping for closure, after his life was tragically cut short.
"He was an amazing man, full of life and happiness," said his son, Logan."Tough exterior, but a teddy bear on the inside.”
Mark is described by loved ones as a loving father of two boys who always took notice of the little things.
“He was always, whether you thought he was or not, he was always listening,” said Logan.
But last Friday, Logan and his family's lives were turned upside down.
“I was woken up about 20 minutes past midnight," he said. "He had gone out for a walk, nothing out of the normal, when he was struck and killed by a vehicle in a hit and run," he said. "For me, I got dressed, got out of bed, and went straight to my mom.”
Maplewood police say it all happened around 10 p.m. when officers noticed two cars stopped with a person who had been hit in the roadway on northbound McKnight Road near Margaret Street.
Mark was pronounced dead on the scene.
Officers later found out the person responsible for the hit-and-run was gone.
“Our whole family is saddened that this happened, we understand accidents happen," Logan said. "This is a pain no family should have to endure.
While police say they’re now searching for a 2011 to 2020 dark blue Dodge Caravan with front right-end damage in connection with the deadly hit-and-run, loved ones are hoping the person responsible is caught soon.
“Accident or not, the person responsible should be held accountable, we just want closure; that’s what we want right now," said Logan.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to come forward.
If you have any information on this hit-and-run, contact Lt. Joe Steiner at 651-249-2608 or JoeSteiner@maplewoodmn.gov.
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