Michelle Newton Smith, Firefighter

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Firefighter Smith was working on the scene of a motorcycle crash. The driver of a passenger vehicle entering the scene lost control and struck a law enforcement vehicle. Firefighter Smith was struck and severely injured. She was treated at the scene and in the hospital but died of her injuries on December 22, 2008. The driver of the vehicle that killed Firefighter Smith fled the scene. Law enforcement officials later arrested a man and charged him with first degree murder, first degree assault, driving with a revoked license, leaving the scene of a crash, and failing to report a crash. The driver is a paraplegic and is alleged to have been using a stick to operate the controls of the car at the time of the crash.

Department information

Delaware City Fire Company 1, Inc.
815 Fifth Street, PO Box 251
USNG: 18S VJ 4865 8072
Delaware City, Delaware 19706

Chief: James D. Rosseel

Michelle Newton Smith was honored on the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland and was included in the USFA’s annual report Firefighter Fatalities in the United States.
Age: 29
Rank: Firefighter
Classification: Volunteer
Incident date: December 20, 2008 21:52
Date of death: December 22, 2008
Cause of death: Struck By
Nature of death: Trauma
Activity type: EMS/Patient Care
Emergency duty: Yes
Duty type: On-Scene Non-Fire
Fixed property use: Street/Road

Memorial fund information

Donations can be made to the Emily A. Burge Trust Fund, C/o Delaware City Fire Company No. 1, Inc., 815 Fifth Street, PO Box 251, Delaware City, DE 19706 and/or Saint Judes Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org