Charges filed in deadly Bois Forte hit-and-run

Charges have been filed in a deadly hit-and-run accident that occurred on December 17, 2024 within the Bois Forte Reservation. Eric Peterson, age 50 of Virginia, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

As per the criminal complaint, the St. Louis County 911 Center received the report of an intoxicated famle walking on Tibbets Trail Road near Fortune Bay Resort and Casino shortly before 9 p.m. on the 17th. Shortly after that, a second call was made reporting seeing a person on Lake Vermillion Reservation Road.

Bois Forte tribal law enforcement was then dispatched. An officer found a pair of boots and apparent dark blue vehicle debris at the location described in the calls. At 9:02 p.m. the same officer found an unconcious female with no pulse lying in a ditch along Lake Vermillion Reservation Road. The victim was transported from the scene and pronounced deceased.

The victim was identified as Amanda Boshey. The 38-year-old was the mother of five, a Bois Forte band member, and a laborer for Whitebird Services out of Local 1091.

Law enforcement contacted the Casino to see if they had footage that showed any dark blue vehicles leaving around the time of the call and were able to identify a blue Dodge Durango. Casino staff was also able to help identify the vehicles driver as Eric Peterson which was then confirmed by law enforcement.

Footage shows that both of the Durango’s headlights were operational when it left.

Footage later taken from a nearby Y Store showed at some point only the front driver’s side headlamp was operational.

Authorities were able to location Peterson’s residence and located the blue Durango with damages in his driveway. Damages appeared consistent with debris collected at the scene according to court documents.

A search warrant was executed and it was discovered that Peterson’s BAC was 0.048, approximately 7.5 hours after the alleged collision.

In a statement to police, Peterson stated that he believed he hit a deer on the way home, but did not stop to confirm what he hit.