An 84-year-old St. Michael man who was active in his community was struck and killed by a Wright County Sheriff's deputy who was driving to a medical emergency Thursday night.
The Minnesota State Patrol reported that Harold Henry Welter was hit in a driveway by deputy Dustin Matthew Hatzenbeller, 37, of Otsego, at 400 North Main St. in St. Michael shortly before 8 p.m.
Welter was a lifelong resident of St. Michael. According to the city's Historical Society, where he served as a board member, he served 23 years on the St. Michael Fire Department and was a 40-year Lion Club member.
In addition to serving 14 years on the St. Michael City Council, Welter was mayor from 1987 to 1991.
"Harry was about as St. Michael of a person as they came," said Bob Zahler, historical society curator and board member. "He was the consummate St. Michaelite."
Zahler said in a phone interview Sunday that Welter's father and uncle were founders of Welter Implement, now known as Trueman-Welter's Powersports in Buffalo. Welter owned an appliance store in St. Michael and was proud of his civic engagement, Zahler said.
"This was the place of his birth. He was proud of his heritage and family's contributions to our community," he said. "He will be very, very fondly remembered and missed as an active member of our community."
Zahler added that he was shocked to see the news of the fatal crash involving Welter and a sheriff's deputy and said the circumstances are still unclear. "It's a horrible situation," he said.
