Family, friends remember paramedic killed on duty one year later
New changes to state law take effect later this year Share Updated: 8:03 PM EST Jan 5, 2021
New changes to state law take effect later this year Share Updated: 8:03 PM EST Jan 5, 2021
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Show Transcript AND PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY THIS LAW. THAT IS RIGHT. FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MATTHEW, THE FOCUS IS ON HIS LEGACY AND REMEMBERING THE MAN. THOSE THAT KNEW HIM BEST NO MOVING ON IS NEVER EASY, BUT MOVING OVER IS A SIMPLE STEP THAT CAN SAVE LIVES. ONE YEAR AGO MATTHEW’S LIFE WAS TAKEN ALONG THIS BRIDGE ON INTERSTATE 70. HE WAS A PARAMEDIC WITH THE EMERGENCY SERVICES AND WAS RESPONDING TO A CALL ON THE BRIDGE WHEN HE WAS HIT BY A TRACTOR-TRAILER. HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON WITHIN THIS ORGANIZATION. HE WORKED WITH HIM, HE WAS 44 YEARS OLD AND A FATHER TO TWO YOUNG KIDS. HE WAS WAY MORE THAN JUST A PARAMEDIC. HE WAS A FAMILY MANNED AND HIS FAMILY MEANT EVERYTHING TO
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“Next week will be one of the hardest for us, our first Christmas without Matt,” she said.
One of Smelser’s longtime co-workers, Jeffrey Pesarsick, now a flight paramedic with STAT MedEvac, recalled how Smelser was always ready.
He talked about a conference he and Smelser attended in Washington, D.C., and, while the pair relaxed in a restaurant during a conference break, Smelser interrupted Pesarsick.
“Man, that guy over there does not look well,” Pesarsick recalled Smelser saying.
“I no sooner took notice, and the gentleman fell over backwards (in his chair),” Pesarsick said.
The paramedics rushed over to help, finding the victim had no pulse.