Double Tragedy in GA & MD, MA, FDNY Updates….When He Hugged (The Secret List)

Hey…

On Sunday’s issue of The Secret List, we advised you of the Crisp County (Georgia) crash involving a semi truck that struck a fire apparatus. That crash killed the driver of the semi and left a Crisp County Firefighter in critical condition. The semi-driver failed to yield the right of way at the intersection, which was marked with signage but also a flashing traffic light according to the cops.

But in a very tragic twist, the semi-driver who lost his life, Shane Waters, was also a very active Firefighter with the New Madison Volunteer FD in New Madison, OH. In addition, Shane, who had been recognized for his service on several occasions, was also an active member of Tri-Village Rescue (also in New Madison).

Our sincere condolences on the loss of Shane Waters and prayers for the fire apparatus driver, 47-year-old Firefighter Thomas Hauesler who was taken to Macon Medical Center and is in the intensive care unit…. Firefighter Hauesler suffered serious burns, 2 collapsed lungs, 2 broken shoulders & other wounds.

FDNY LT ROBERT RYAN LODD UPDATE: "When He Hugged…He Meant It…"

As a reminder, Lt Robert Ryan’s funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart at 1100 hours on Wednesday on Staten Island and he will then will be laid to rest at St. Peter’s Cemetery.

We also wanted to pass some quotes on from the below article….about how those who knew Lt. Ryan felt about him…"When he hugged you, you knew he meant it," he said. "It’s a real loss to this world not to have him in it." …"He was the salt of the Earth, a good guy," said Gerard Harkin, 75, the father of Ryan’s wife, Kathleen…."He was not only a good citizen and a good public servant, but he was a great father," said Harkin, crying. "He was wonderful to his children, wonderful to his family…."It’s terrible," he said. "He was one of the good ones."

Here is the entire piece as well as more local information about him:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/23/2008-11-23_when_he_hugged_you_you_knew_he_meant_it_.html

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/funeral_arrangements_for_falle.html

UPDATE: RIVERDALE FIREFIGHTERS-Prince Georges County MD Update:

F/F Johnston was once again released (after going back in) from the Washington Burn Center. They have done some minor "cutting" of dead tissue around the burn and the fear of infection has subsided. He is back at the station with limited mobility of his right arm. He will remain out of service for and extended period of time to enable the healing process to complete properly. Here are the details from the Riverdale VFD:

http://www.riverdalevfd.org/

….and here is an overview of the fire itself from Dave Statter:

http://www.wusa9.com/news/columnist/blogs/2008/11/just-24-seconds-series-of-pictures.html

UPDATE: MA. FIREFIGHTER TO BE ARRAIGNED IN LADDER TRUCK CRASH:

An arraignment date of Dec. 23 is set for a Provincetown (MA) volunteer firefighter facing criminal motor vehicle charges stemming from the wreck of a ladder truck on Nov. 9. FF Elias Martinez, 21, a steward with the town’s volunteer fire department ladder company, will face a criminal charge of operating a vehicle negligently so as to endanger. Police have also cited Martinez with speeding and failure to use caution at an intersection. An accident reconstruction report that the police received last week led them to make the charges. FF Martinez, who started with the fire department at 13 as a junior firefighter, is on unpaid administrative leave from the 75-member fire department following the one-vehicle crash and totaling of the town’s only ladder truck. Police have not cited a civilian passenger in the truck, Emily Forbes, 21.

Take Care-BE CAREFUL.

BillyG

The Secret List 11-25-08 / 0248 hours

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