Emergency

Speeding Cop On Emergency Call Hits And Kills Ex Minnesota Mayor, 84

A former Minnesota mayor has been hit and killed on his driveway by a cop responding to a medical emergency on an icy road.

The tragic incident took place in the small city of St. Michael, located in Wright County in the US state of Minnesota, on 23rd December.

Former St. Michael mayor Harold Welter, 84, was hit by a Wright County Sheriff’s Department squad car driven by Officer Dustin Hatzenbeller, 37, who was responding to a medical emergency at the time.

The pedestrian Harry Welter who was struck and killed in a driveway in December 2021. (St. Michael Historical Society/Newsflash)

The police said the road was icy when the officer was driving to the emergency, and he came off the road and hit the victim in his driveway.

The City of St. Michael said in a statement: “Lifelong resident and former Mayor and St. Michael Council Member, Harold (Harry) Welter, passed away late last week.

“He serve on the St. Michael Fire Department for 23 years, was part of the St. Michael Lions Club for close to 50 years, where he served four terms as president.

“Welter also served on the St. Michael City Council for 10 years from 1977to 1987, then four years as Mayor, from 1987 to 1991. He also volunteered to clean the Great River Regional Library at the Colonial Mall for free in the early 2000s.

“He was a true public servant and will be greatly missed by the St. Michael community.”

Deputy Dustin Hatzenbeller of Otsego who struck a pedestrian in a driveway in December 2021. (St. Michael Historical Society/Newsflash)

Bob Zahler, a spokesperson for St. Michael Historical Society, told local media: “Harry was a person very committed to his community, very committed to his family, and certainly and a gentleman in every sense of the word.

“I’m certain that people will remember Harry as that friendly gentleman who had the interest of St. Michael always in mind.”

Sheriff Sean Deringer said Officer Hatzenbeller is helping the state authorities with the investigation.

He has been placed on paid administrative leave while the internal investigation continues.

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