88-year-old veteran found dead in Mankato street, hit-and-run suspected

MANKATO, Minn. (KMSP) - Police in Mankato, Minnesota, are investigating a possible hit-and-run after an 88-year-old man was found dead in the street early Wednesday morning. 

At 1:20 a.m., officers were called to the 600 block of East Main Street and found a deceased man in the traffic lane. Authorities have not yet determined his cause of death, but they suspect the incident to be a hit-and-run. 

The victim has been identified as William Maher. According to family members, he was a Korean War veteran in frail health and suffering from dementia. He was struck and killed just blocks from his home. 

Authorities are reviewing evidence found at the scene, including broken vehicle parts that left no doubt in the minds of investigators about what happened.

Police are now searching for a 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a light gray or silver plastic grill. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call police at 507-387-8725.

“I believe the driver would’ve known. That’s what we’re asking: anyone with information or either may have been in the area and hit somebody, please contact Mankato Public Safety,” said Mankato Police Commander Dan Schisel.