30 minutes: Time requested for plea in Moorhead truck crash case

A plea hearing is now the next step in the criminal case involving a Moorhead city truck driver accused of killing a 9-year-old bicyclist, according to court documents filed Monday. The defense team asked the judge to replace the previously planned jury trial with a shorter proceeding that would give the victim's family a chance to address the court.

Attorney Luke Heck wrote to Clay County District Court on Oct. 26 that the parties reached an agreement on how to resolve the case. He requested that the court cancel the settlement conference and the trial. Heck asked for a 30 to 45 minute hearing to accommodate an impact statement from the family. He also asked permission for the family to appear via Zoom rather than in person.

Victor Port, 64, of West Fargo, faces two misdemeanor charges. Prosecutors filed the charges in February, more than six months after the crash on July 31, 2025. The charges are failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and operating a vehicle without the proper license.

Adam Amin, 9, was riding his bike in a marked crosswalk at 40th Avenue South and 14th Street South when the collision occurred. Port was driving a City of Moorhead water truck. Port told investigators he stopped at the four-way stop and began a left turn. He heard a bang near the front passenger tire and said he never saw Amin before the impact. The criminal complaint noted Port was not on his phone, distracted, or impaired.

A Minnesota State Patrol reconstruction found the truck stopped beyond the white line. The bumper may have extended into the crosswalk. Blind spots blocked the driver's view of a bicyclist within about six feet of the front bumper. Investigators also determined Port held a Class D North Dakota license. His commercial license had been downgraded in 2024 after his medical certification expired.

Each misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. The settlement conference was originally set for Oct. 29, and the jury trial was scheduled for Nov. 3.