GOODHUE, Minn. — Fire Chief Michael Kehren, 58, was killed Monday when he fell off a wagon ride.
Kehren was a passenger on one of two hay wagons being pulled by a tractor when he fell off, struck his head on the pavement and was run over by the second wagon.
Deputies and paramedics responded to the incident; he was pronounced dead at the scene, reported the Republican Eagle.
“The main response from a lot of us who were on vacation was to come home early and discuss everything,” Goodhue Assistant Fire Chief Dustin Luhman said. “We’ll just try to do whatever we can to help (Kehren’s) family.”
Kehren had 23 years on the fire department and spent the past eight serving as its fire chief. He was also president of the Goodhue County Fire Chiefs Association.
Fire departments and law enforcement agencies around the area offered their condolences and expressed grief at the news of Kehren’s death via social media.
The Red Wing Fire Department wrote in a post, “The Goodhue Fire Department lost a great man, leader, brother and father … the loss of this man goes deeper than just his community.”
Luhman said that neighboring departments will cover calls while Goodhue firefighters accompany Kehren’s family at the funeral Saturday.
“Everyone is on deck with the family with whatever they need.” Luhman said.
Kehren leaves behind three sons.