Ridgeway firefighter killed in crash

A 48-year-old Ridgeway firefighter died Friday night in a crash on Highway 18/151 in Ridgeway. The Iowa County 911 communications center received a report at around 8:41 p.m. of a vehicle in a ditch near mile marker 55. First responders were dispatched to the scene. A subsequent 911 call reported that a person had been hit by a vehicle at the crash site, prompting officials to request additional units. 48-year-old Collin Giddings was driving eastbound when his vehicle left the roadway and entered a ditch. Giddings later reentered the eastbound lanes, where he was struck from behind by  22-year-old Cody Anderson of Verona. Giddings’ vehicle was then hit by 61-year-old Julia Allen of Fitchburg. Giddings was ejected from his vehicle in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Iowa County coroner. Anderson was treated and released at the scene, while Allen was transported and treated at a hospital before being released. The Wisconsin State Patrol is assisting the sheriff’s office with the investigation. The Ridgeway Fire Department said it was mourning Giddings’ death, who served the fire department for over 22 years.