An area volunteer firefighter faces drunk driving charges stemming from an apparent Saturday night drinking binge. Dennis Masek, 37, of LaCrosse was arrested by officers from the LaPorte County Police early Sunday morning after a motorist reportedly had to swerve to avoid his truck, which was stopped in the middle of U.S. 421 about two miles north of LaCrossee. WSBT-TV reports the driver asked Masek to pull into a nearby driveway to get off the highway. Instead, he reportedly drove past the driveway and into a ditch. According to the police, Masek admitted drinking at a bar in Wanatah. His blood alcohol level was .15-percent when he was booked into the LaPorte County Jail, according to the arrest report. About an hour before his arrest, Masek reportedly hit two tall pine trees and steel fencing in a yard south of Wanatah and also struck a guard rail. He also struck a parked vehicle outside a home on Illinois Street in Wanatah, according to investigators. They reportedly found broken pieces of his vehicle at both crash scenes. LaCrosse Fire Chief Aaron Rust told the television station that Masek was “on personal business, not responding to any call” when the incidents occurred. He faces a misdemeanor charge.
