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

Ryan Walker received the call after 3 in the morning. 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 that 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 & 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 has three ambulances is now down to one. One is receiving routine maintenance and the one involved in the New Year incident could be back on the road possibly as soon as Friday.

Pursuant to New York state bail reform, the named defendant was released on an appearance ticket scheduled to appear in the village of Fredonia Court at a later date.

A spokesman at the university said the matter regarding Gokce would be turned over to the Office of Student Conduct. According to the university web site, “the Office of Student Conduct maintains the belief that all students should work together to create an environment of civility towards all.”