Off-Duty New Haven Firefighter Killed After Multi-Car I-91 Crash: PD

NEW HAVEN, CT — An off-duty New Haven firefighter was killed Wednesday night after a multi-car crash on I-91, state police reported. At around 9:45 p.m., Thomas Mieles, 27, was outside his Honda in the northbound lane of the highway near exit 8 after being involved in a single car accident. His car was disabled.

Two other cars, a Chevrolet Silverado and a Ford Taurus, stopped in front of Mieles' car to help him, the police report reads. Meanwhile, an Acura was moving in the left lane was headed towards Mieles’ Honda, the Taurus, and the Silverado. Another vehicle, a Chevrolet Equinox, was in the center lane next to the Acura. The Acura hit Mieles' Honda pushing it into the Taurus, the report states.

The Acura then sideswiped the Chevrolet Equinox on the driver’s side, and hit the Silverado as well, according to state police. The force of the collision caused the Equinox to swerve into the left lane, and it hit Mieles, who was outside his vehicle, state police said. In a Wednesday night tweet on the crash, New Haven Fire (Local 825) reported that the firefighter was trapped under the vehicle.

The firefighter was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital and there was pronounced dead.

All the other drivers suffered minor physical injuries, state police said.

State police ask that anyone who witnessed the fatal five-car crash contact Trooper Troczynski #473, at Troop I, at 203-393-4200. And, police ask that anyone with dashcam who was traveling in the area also contact the Trooper.

New Haven Fire Chief John Alston said Mieles had just joined the fire department in January of this year. He was stationed at Engine 10 Lombard fire station in Fair Haven.

"It is with great sadness of heart of the New Haven fire department announces the passing of firefighter Thomas Mieles," Alston said in a statement. "Firefighter Mieles, a New Haven resident, fulfilled his dream of becoming a firefighter this year by joining the department January 12, 2022, was struck down by in a multi-vehicle accident while off duty."

Alston said the young firefighter "protected the neighborhood he lived in."

The fire chief directed all department flags lowered to half-mast "in honor of his service to our city."

"We ask your kind thoughts and prayers during this time of bereavement for his family, friends and department members as they grieve this tragic loss."

"Here we are again. Another awful day for New Haven firefighters."

In June 2021, Mieles' name was the first to be pulled in a firefighter lottery, It was needed as so many recruits at the time "tied for first place with perfect 100 scores on a test for the position, far more than there are openings," it was reported by the New Haven Independent.

The lottery was also a "first-of-its-kind unusual civil-service procedure: Compiling a ranked list of which applicants get to fill empty firefighter slots."

Mieles graduated from Wilbur Cross High School in 2013 where he played baseball.

At a morning news briefing, Alston, who told Patch that even as a "man of faith, this is difficult. I have questions," choked up when he said, "It's been a very difficult time for our department." Alston was referring to the loss of firefighters William McMillian, 27, in 2021, and Ricardo Torres, 30, killed fighting a Valley Street blaze.

"Thomas loved the fire department," Alston said, "Growing up in this neighborhood and being able to protect his own neighborhood, I understand how proud he was."

Mieles was engaged to be married, Alston said.

Mieles, who grew up in the neighborhood that he served, was a "New Haven kid," Mayor Justin Elicker said. He, Chief Alston and other members of the fire department were among those who went to the hospital Wednesday night to comfort his family.

“At 27 years old, we lost firefighter Mieles while he far too young and our hearts break for his family, his fiancé, and his brothers and sisters at the New Haven Fire Department," he said. "The City of New Haven is committed to doing everything we can to support the Mieles family and to ensuring that the New Haven Fire Department has every resource it needs to get through this difficult time.”

Inside the firehouse, scores of firefighters gathered, including some from as far away as Hartford. And his classmates, who Alston called a "very tight-knit group." Therapy dogs were on hand for those in need.

Mieles was described by IAFF president Patrick Cannon as a "young, energetic, full of life firefighter."

"Happy to be here. Happy to do the job. Happy to be part of this family," he said, his voice quaking as he asked for support and prayers for Mieles' family and firefighters in the Lombard station and "every fire house in the city."

Assistant Fire Chief Justin McCarthy, when asked if firefighters know how deeply this kind of loss affects the community, he was candid.

"I think when you sign up for this job, you have to love people to do this job. I've said this before, and it's true. Helping people is important. You wouldn't do this job if you didn't want to help people," McCarthy said. "We really appreciate the brother and sisterhood, but as far as the community goes, our relationships are very deep, and we appreciate them I don't know if we appreciate them to the level that people appreciate us back."

Mieles' body was escorted by New Haven police to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Alston said.