LANSING, Mich. (AP) – Police in Michigan have arrested the driver of a pickup truck who they believe intentionally struck a firefighter standing in a roadway collecting money for a charity, killing him.
Dennis Rodeman, a seven-year veteran of the Lansing Fire Department, died Wednesday night, Mayor Virg Bernero said in a statement.
The 35-year-old Rodeman, who also served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq, according to the mayor, was struck about 3:40 p.m. He and other firefighters were participating in an annual fundraising campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the International Association of Fire Fighters, authorities said.
A “traffic altercation” preceded Rodeman being hit, Lansing police Capt. Jim Kraus told the Lansing State Journal.
“The suspect came by, was upset for whatever reason (and) circled back around” before striking the firefighter, Kraus said. “The preliminary investigation is that he deliberately hit the firefighter.”