Tire marks are pictured after a student at the State University of New York at Fredonia reportedly stole an ambulance early Wednesday. The vehicle sustained front-end and undercarriage damage. Submitted photo

FREDONIA — It was a rude awakening for the Fredonia fire chief on New Year’s Day.

Ryan Walker received the call at 3 a.m. One of his firefighters told him there was a situation involving one of the department’s ambulances. It had briefly gone missing after being taken by an individual while members were answering a medical emergency call on Central Avenue.

On Thursday afternoon, Fredonia police released the details about the stolen ambulance that ended up crashing near the State University of New York at Fredonia entrance.

On Wednesday at approximately 3 a.m., the Fredonia Police Department responded to Central Avenue for a report of a stolen Fredonia Fire and Rescue Ambulance.

It was reported that members of Fredonia Fire and Rescue were at a residence on Central Avenue in Fredonia attending to a medical emergency. Upon exiting the residence it was discovered that Fire Ambulance Rescue 15 had been taken by an unknown person from the scene.

The incident was reported to the Fredonia Police Department.

Police located the vehicle traveling north on Central Avenue, at which the ambulance drove up on the curb, striking several signs near the College Parkway, where it became stuck in the lawn.

An officer approached the vehicle and requested the operator to exit the ambulance. The operator refused the request, subsequently fighting with the officer. The subject was secured and taken into custody.

He was identified as Arda I. Gokce, a 23-year-old student of the university.

Following the subsequent investigation Gokce was charged with two counts of driving while intoxicated, unlicensed driver, speed not reasonable and prudent, failure to keep right, driving on the sidewalk, obstructing emergency medical services, obstructing government administration, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and fourth-degree criminal mischief.

The value of the ambulance is estimated to be $240,000. An estimate of repair is unavailable at this time, after suffering front-end and undercarriage damage.

Walker said the department that had three ambulances is now down to one as another one is receiving routine maintenance.

Gokce is scheduled to appear in Fredonia Village Court at a later date.