Lansing Firefighter Working MDA “Fill the Boot” Dies After Driver of Pickup Deliberately Hits Him in Traffic

A Lansing firefighter died Wednesday after being struck by vehicle in what police are calling a deliberate hit-and-run incident on the city’s south side.

Dennis Rodeman, a seven-year veteran of the department, was collecting donations for a Fill the Boot campaign for Muscular Dystrophy near the intersection of Cedar Street and Jolly Road about 3:40 p.m. ET when he was hit by a pickup truck.

The suspected driver, a Lansing man age 24, drove away from the scene, but was caught after a car and foot pursuit. The driver was upset about something on the first pass by the firefighters, and then circled back and deliberately hit Rodeman.

Rodeman was among several firefighters at the intersection collecting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). The campaigns are common methods of collection of donations by firefighters across the country. Rodeman was wearing turnout gear and a reflective vest, and was standing in the center turn lane when he was hit.

A witness saw the offending driver’s pickup driver swerve from the right lane to the left lane and hit the firefighter. Two motorist nearby chased the pickup truck and managed to get a license number.

The suspect was arrested a short time later.