Fairbank Mayor Killed in Driver’s Ed Car Collision

The mayor of Fairbank was killed in a collision in Bremer County on Monday morning.

The Iowa State Patrol says a Driver’s Ed car driven by 14-year old Emmeric Pavelec of Waterloo was heading southbound on Highway 218 around 8:30 am when it dropped off onto the shoulder and over-corrected, crossing the southbound lanes and median. The vehicle then entered the path of the northbound lanes and was struck by a SUV.

Pavelec was injured and transported to Allen Hospital in Waterloo. 

The State Patrol says there were two passengers in the Driver’s Ed car. 71-year old Gregory “Mike” Harter of Fairbank died in the crash. Another 14-year old, Gael Portillo of Waverly, was injured. 

The other driver in the SUV, 44-year old Tabetha Gehrke of Waterloo, was injured and transported to MercyOne in Waterloo.

The collision remains under investigation.