RACETRACK LESSEE RAMS LOCAL PENNSYLVANIA FIRE VEHICLE

An incident at Gambler's Raceway Park Sunday night resulted in at least four people being treated for injuries. As of posting time, Lawrence Township Police were still investigating the incident that unfolded at about 8 p.m. at the car race track.

Ron Stiles, deputy fire chief for Hyde Fire Co., said a dispute began when track lessee Richard DeLisle of Clearfield failed to uphold his end of a contract with the fire company. The company, Stiles said, was to receive a payment of $350 per race night to provide fire protection during events. Without such emergency equipment on scene, the races cannot go on.

Stiles said Sunday was not the first time the company had an issue with DeLisle. "Our agreement was to be paid in cash when we signed in each night," he said. Some weeks the company was paid by check either at intermission or at the end of the night.

Firefighters informed DeLisle that the the company would not provide fire protection for Sunday's race without first receiving payment. If money was not received, the company was leaving the track. That's when, according to Stiles, DeLisle used a pickup truck to ram the fire company's utility truck.

Four firemen were treated for injuries as a result. The four firefighters suffered leg, elbow and arm injuries, Stiles said. The picture below is a close up of Hyde's utility and Fire Police Captain 607's truck. 607 used his personal vehicle to stop the DeLisle truck from hitting or injuring anyone else.