A Wright County firefighter is facing charges after he allegedly crashed a fire engine during a brush fire response and left the scene without reporting it. According to Deputy Trenton Kastning, firefighter Joseph Wayne Garrison was involved in a motor‑vehicle accident on Sept. 19 near Baty Road and Ellis Road, causing significant property damage.
Fire Chief Bill Dodds told investigators the damage to both the property and the fire engine did not match Garrison’s account. The property owner estimated repairs at a minimum of $2,500, and Dodds believed damage to the engine would be around $5,000. Kastning wrote that Garrison does not have a valid driver’s license.
Garrison allegedly failed to notify the property owner or law enforcement and gave conflicting explanations about how the crash occurred. He was arrested on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident with property damage over $1,000 and operating a vehicle without a valid license. All charges are allegations, and Garrison is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
