Off-duty Conn. firefighter-EMT dies in crash

Colleagues in both agencies responded to the crash Thursday, not knowing their friend was in the wreckage

By Amanda Pinto
The New Haven Register

MADISON, Conn. — A volunteer firefighter and EMT was killed Thursday morning when the car he was driving drifted off the right shoulder of Interstate 95 southbound and struck a tree near Exit 61.

Robert Komola, 49, of Madison was an employee of the Madison Ambulance Association and a volunteer firefighter at Madison Hose Company 1, officials said.

His colleagues in both agencies responded to the crash Thursday, not knowing their friend was in the wreckage.

"Of course, that's the last thing, when you're responding, that you expect. When it's one of your own, it makes it that much more difficult," Madison Ambulance Association EMS Director Chris Bernier said.

The Chevrolet Lumina Komola was driving struck a large tree just north of Exit 61 at about 9 a.m., according to state police. Komola was pronounced dead at the scene. No further information about the cause of the accident was available. Komola was not on duty at the time of the crash.

He was an EMT with the ambulance association for 10 years, and was active in town and community service, Bernier said. Komola previously served as a lieutenant in the North Madison Volunteer Fire Company, where he worked for 11 years, and as an emergency dispatcher in Guilford, officials said.

"(He was) a very engaged, very hands-on, very involved type of guy, very helpful, very sincere," said North Madison Volunteer Fire Company Lt. Paul Harris, who remembered Komola as a friend, dedicated father and emergency responder. "He was always the kind of guy that whenever there was a job to do, you could count on him to be there and also to say, 'Let's get the job done, let's pitch in.'"

Madison Hose Company Chief Robert Gerard said it was a tough day for volunteer firefighters who had responded to the accident scene to find a tragedy involving a good friend.

Komola was a "very active member" who was one of the company's best drivers, and participated in many town events, including fire prevention programs at town schools.

"He's somebody who did a really good job and will be a big loss for all of us," Gerard said.

Bernier said he had made services available to employees affected by the crash; Gerard said he was meeting with volunteers about the accident Thursday evening.

Police closed the right lane of the highway for several hours after the crash, reopening it shortly after noon. The accident remains under investigation.