PERU – Minor injuries were reported in a crash involving a Mendota Fire Department vehicle on Monday. According to the Illinois State Police, just after 9 a.m. 58-year-old Dennis Ruthishauser, the Fire Chief of Mendota was responding to the Witzak Brothers structure fire in Peru with lights and sirens reportedly activated. Authorities say he was traveling south on IL Rt 251 approaching the I-80 overpass, when an SUV driven by a44-year-old Depue man entered the intersection from the I-80 eastbound exit ramp and proceeded to turn left on the green arrow and collided with the Chiefs SUV. Police say Rutishauser received minor injuries, and was transported to an area hospital.
