Pierceton Fire Chief Gordon Baker’s vehicle after the collision.

WARSAW — At 8:25 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Chris Anderson was tending to a few slide-offs in the area of US 30 and CR 450E, Warsaw, when a vehicle hit an emergency responder assisting with traffic control.

Pierceton Fire Chief Gordon Baker, 52, West Tulip Street, Pierceton, had stopped with his emergency lights on to assist with traffic and slow drivers down due to the icy roads. While stopped, Joseph Dimaggio, 24, West 92nd Lane, Saint John, ran into the rear end of Gordon’s fire vehicle.

Dimaggio stated that he saw the emergency lights but thought the emergency vehicle was still moving. When he noticed that the vehicle was stopped, he attempted to brake and started to slide. Dimaggio’s vehicle received significant front end damage from the collision. Both Dimaggio and his passenger were checked by medics at the scene and reported no injuries.

Gordon was transported to Kosciusko Community Hospital for lower back and arm pain and has since been released.