Update: Conn. firefighter dies of injuries from deer-scooter crash
10:34 AM Tue, Aug 04, 2009 | Permalink
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HOPKINTON, R.I. -- A volunteer firefighter with the Moosup Fire Department in Plainfield, Conn., died Monday night of injuries he sustained when his scooter hit a deer Sunday on Route 138. Alan Smith and several friends in a motor scooter club were riding to Narragansett Sunday morning when a deer bolted from the woods and hit the scooter he was operating, Moosup Deputy Fire Chief Paul Yellen said Tuesday morning. The accident happened around 11:05 a.m. Sunday on a section of Route 138 west of Route 3, according to the Hopkinton police. A passenger on Smith's scooter, Elizabeth Millhouse, was discharged from Rhode Island Hospital Monday, according to hospital spokeswoman Jill Reuter. Smith had moved to Moosup, which is a village in Plainfield, from Rhode Island perhaps five to eight years ago, Yellen said. He had been a firefighter in western Coventry before moving and joining the Moosup Department, which is an all-volunteer department with about 38 members. He worked as a mechanical engineer for a company called Liquid Air, Yellen said. A very skilled mechanic, Smith has always been very helpful around the fire station when mechanical issues arise with the trucks and electronic equipment. Also a "very, very skilled" emergency medical technician, Smith was one of the lead firefighters Saturday going into a house fire in a neighboring village, Yellen said. Always with a smile on his face, he's the kind of person who's always willing to help, Yellen said. Most of the volunteer firefighters who work with Smith were stunned Monday to learn of his accident at their monthly fire meeting, Yellen said. The deputy chief learned of Smith's accident Monday morning, and an assistant chief with the department worked to gather details about the accident so they could share information at the night meeting, Yellen said. Perhaps only a handful of the volunteers had heard by the time they came to the meeting, he said. A number of the volunteers said they've seen more deer active in rural parts this year, Yellen said. The department is having difficulty knowing that one of their own is suffering, the deputy chief said. "This is one of those accidents where he and his friends were doing something that was so totally normal," Yellen said. "No different than walking down the street to get a cup of coffee. No different than driving to the store -- just a perfectly normal activity. Then, out of no fault of his or his other friends, this tragedy strikes. It's very hard for us to comprehend." CORRECTION: An earlier version of this item incorrectly reported Alan Smith remained in critical condition. Smith died Monday night. 
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My best wishes are with him and his family and friends. Hoping for a full recovery.
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We love you, Alan.
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Best wishes from a fellow scooter owner and former EMT.
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Providence Motorsports would like to send their thoughts and prayers to the family.
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We love you Alan. You will be greatly missed. Our prayers are with your family.
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