By Marley Seaman and Rachel Kalina
Firefighter Paul Brady, who served in the department for six years, died in an accident on Sunday, July 30. Brady, 42, was standing on top of a rescue truck inside the station house at approximately 10:10 a.m., preparing it for use in a training drill, when another firefighter began driving the truck. According to a fire department press release, Brady was caught between a piece of equipment and a ceiling beam of the firehouse. He then fell from the top of the truck to the floor. Police said he suffered massive trauma in the accident, and additional head trauma as a result of the fall.
Brady was taken to Nassau University Medical Center, where he died three hours later.
"The accident occurred because the driver was unaware he was on the truck," said firefighter Dave Gildea. "The official investigation [by police] has been completed and it has been ruled an accident, but internally we continue to evaluate any injury or any incident."
A press release from the Nassau County Police Deparment homicide squad said that Fire Department Chief Robert Meyer was the driver of the truck, but Gildea said that was not the case. He did not name the firefighter who he said drove the truck. Police say that no charges were filed in the accident, and no summonses were issued. The rescue truck was retured to service after it was inspected.
The fire department Web site said that Brady is survived by his wife, Lisa, as well as his father, brother and two sisters. Calls to Brady's home were not returned as the Herald went to press.
"Paul will definitely be missed here," said Gildea. "He was a brave and dedicated fireman, and a true friend to all his fellow firefighters here in the village." Like all members of the Malverne department, Brady was a volunteer.
Details of the funeral services and arrangements for Brady were not available at press time.
Comments about this story? MSeaman@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 205.
