CHICKASAW COUNTY – A Northern Iowa firefighter was killed in an auto crash in Chickasaw County on Sunday afternoon.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, the accident happened on Exeter Avenue north of 215th Street near Ionia at around 4 PM. An Ionia firetruck and a Pols Ranger UTV converted into a fire fighting vehicle were responding to a field fire when both vehicles tried to pass a slower-moving tractor. The fire truck rear ended the UTV and the driver of the UTV, 43 year old Tony Hoffman of Ionia, lost control, rolled and was ejected. Hoffman later passed away from his injuries.
The Ionia Fire Department reported, “Due to a tragic accident we lost one of our very dedicated firefighters as he was responding to a field fire. Tony Hoffman, a 17-year veteran of the Ionia Fire Dept. was involved in a UTV rollover accident and passed away due to injuries suffered in the mishap. Tony was very dedicated to the Dept. and the community and this huge loss is and will be felt by many.”