April 19: Firefighter Fatality in West Salem
Lieutenant Paul Charles Mickolick, 43, of the Town and Country Fire District in West Salem, was fatally struck while assisting a motorist whose vehicle was stuck in a ditch. The tragic incident occurred Friday night around 10:39 p.m. on Stratton Road in Congress Township, Wayne County.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Mickolick responded in his personal vehicle to help Tylor James Green, 33, of West Salem, whose Ford F-150 had become stuck in a ditch while exiting a private field on the west side of Stratton Road.
Shortly after Mickolick arrived and parked his vehicle, a 2006 Cadillac CTS driven by Creighton L. Trimble, 64, of West Salem, was traveling southbound on Stratton Road when it veered off the right side of the roadway into the ditch. The vehicle struck the F-150, Green, and Lt. Mickolick who were standing nearby.
Both Mickolick and Green were transported to Cleveland Clinic Lodi Hospital by Town and County Fire and EMS. Green was later transferred by helicopter to Akron General Hospital with serious injuries. Tragically, Lt. Mickolick succumbed to his injuries.
“Our department has suffered a tremendous loss,” said Fire Chief Adam Hory in a statement. “Lt. Mickolick was a mentor, a brother and a true hero. His passion for the fire service and his deep-rooted dedication to this community will never be forgotten.”
Mickolick had served the community for years, including 16 years as a flight paramedic with Cleveland Clinic before joining the Town and Country Fire District as a full-time firefighter-paramedic in 2022. Chief Hory emphasized that they will “honor his legacy by continuing to serve with the same bravery and compassion he showed every day.”
Earlier this month, Mickolick was one of three members honored at the department’s annual awards dinner for making the most volunteer calls, demonstrating his commitment to service.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine ordered flags to be flown at half-staff at all public buildings throughout Wayne County and state government buildings until sunset on the day of Mickolick’s funeral.
A fundraiser has been established for Mickolick’s family. He leaves behind a wife and two children, ages 13 and 9.
The crash remains under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Assisting agencies at the scene included the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Town and Country Fire District, New Pittsburg Fire and EMS, Lodi Fire and EMS, and Bear’s Towing and Repair.
Mickolick’s death came less than a week after another northeastern Ohio firefighter, John Saunders, 41, of the Tri-Community Joint Fire Department, died while responding to a house fire in Willard on April 16.
Fire departments across northeastern Ohio have extended their support to both departments as they mourn these significant losses to the first responder community.
Photo source Wayne County Regional Training Facility/Facebook
Discover more from Northeast Ohio News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.