Chief Deputy Joseph Bauer died from injuries he suffered in a two-vehicle accident on New Year's Eve while he was responding to a fire.

   An oncoming northbound vehicle crossed into his lane of traffic on State Road 13 south of Syracuse near Lake Wawasee and struck his patrol car head-on.

   Chief Deputy Bauer and a 26-year-old male passenger in the vehicle with him were killed. A married couple, ages 28 and 34, in the other vehicle were also killed and two passengers were injured.

   Chief Deputy Bauer, from Syracuse, was survived by his wife and two children. He had also served as a firefighter.