Suspect cited for driving violation days before hitting North East first responder; Firefighters mourn

NORTH EAST — Two days before striking and killing a volunteer firefighter who was directing traffic at an earlier crash, the suspect in the death of 53-year-old Shawn Giles had been cited by city of Erie police for driving without a license, Capt. Kirk Reese of the Pennsylvania State Police said Tuesday.

"Unfortunately, it is a citable offense and you don't take someone to jail for that," Reese said at a press conference outside of the Fuller Hose Co., where Giles had been a volunteer for 13 years.

Dawann M. Simmons, 41, of Erie, is being held at the Erie County Prison on $200,000 bond. Simmons faces third-degree felony charges of homicide by vehicle and accidents involving death or injury while not licensed.

Simmons has a lengthy history of traffic offenses, according to court records.

More details of crash

He admitted to investigators Sunday that he had drank alcohol, smoked marijuana and taken the medications Adderall and Gabapentin the night before and the morning of the crash. However, toxicology exams that will determine what substances were in his system at the time of the crash had not been completed as of Tuesday.

Those tests, as well as video footage captured on a patrol vehicle's mobile vehicle recording system, will be used to determine if additional charges are filed against Simmons prior to his preliminary hearing on Aug. 31 before Magisterial District Judge Scott B. Hammer.

"Upon completion of all these individual investigations and inquiries, the investigator will consolidate the information and consult with the Erie County District Attorney's office before the preliminary hearing regarding any additional or amended charges," Reese said.

Simmons also faces summary violations for reckless driving, driving without a license and driving while operating privileges suspended or revoked.

The video footage is being used to reconstruct the crash, Reese said, and will not yet be released publicly because the investigation is ongoing.

Simmons told investigators he was on his way to work at Welch Foods Inc. in North East when he saw a car stopped in the right eastbound lane of Route 20. He was attempting to change lanes as he approached the stopped car when Giles jumped in front of his car, he claimed. He attempted to swerve, he said, but struck Giles.

However, according to the criminal complaint, the video footage shows that Giles had been directing traffic in the left eastbound lane for several minutes and that Simmons, who was driving at a high rate of speed, "did not appear to slow down prior to striking Giles."

Giles was thrown 15 to 20 feet before landing on the pavement. He was taken to UPMC Hamot, where he was pronounced dead at 1:43 p.m. Sunday. He died from multiple blunt-force trauma injuries, according to Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook.

Sunday's tragedy is now prompting conversations about how to strengthen state laws to protect emergency responders working at the scene of an accident. Lt. Chris Skrekla, president of the Fuller Hose Co., said one suggestion is to increase penalties for motorists driving by a crash site, the same way penalties are elevated for violating traffic laws in construction zones.

Skrekla said Tuesday that Fuller Hose Co.'s 28 members appreciate the overwhelming support shown by the Erie community and fellow fire departments. He asked for privacy for Giles' fellow firefighters as they continue to grieve.

Outpouring of support

On Monday evening, scores of firefighters from across Erie and Chautauqua counties lined what's otherwise one of the busiest streets in the borough to honor Giles

Shortly after 6 p.m., a black van carrying Giles' body turned south from Main Street onto Route 89 and inched toward Elkin's Funeral Home. Wearing turnout gear, the first responders stood stoically and silently as the vehicle passed under the aerials of two fire trucks and the giant American flag they held.

After it passed, they entered the closed street and followed the family members and friends who trailed the vehicle on foot, eventually stopping at the entrance to the funeral home and standing quietly until Giles' body could be moved inside.

'Our darkest hour'

"He was my big brother," said Renee King, 46, as tears rolled down her face. "He was just a good soul. He was a good man. He did everything for his community that he could. He's gone way too soon and it was under unfair circumstances."

Skrekla said Giles was "soft spoken, but proved that actions are louder than words." In his conversations with others at the scene, Skrekla said he's learned that Giles might have saved four Pennsylvania State Troopers from being struck by Simmons' 2007 Lexus RX350.

"Without doubt, this is our darkest hour," Skrekla said . "But you can see the support from the fire family is overwhelming. I think you're going to continue to see that over the coming days and the coming weeks. The family is eternally grateful for the showing of support."

"I didn't know Shawn personally, but I think I've known hundreds like him," Reese said. "My father was a volunteer fireman and I've worked with volunteer firefighters, fire policemen throughout my entire career. They volunteer to serve their community. They volunteer to answer a siren or a pager or a phone call in the middle of the night or in the middle of a blizzard. They put the lives of others before their own safety. And today, this community now mourns the loss of one of these heroes, Shawn Giles."

Giles was a 13-year member of Fuller Hose Co.'s fire-police auxiliary. He previously served as a volunteer firefighter with the Brookside Fire Department in Harborcreek Township. His wife, Adele Burnett Giles, had also previously served as a first responder for Brookside, Skrekla said. The couple wed in 2012.

Giles, a 1989 North East High School graduate, received a degree in maintenance electricity and construction technology from Triangle Tech. He was a U.S. Army veteran who served in Germany from 1989 to 1993. He worked as an assembler at Wabtec for several years, according to his obituary.

Giles was the step-father of two adult children and their spouses and "loved spending time with his family and being Papa to his grandson Lucas."

"His real love was being a member of the Fuller Hose Company #1 in North East," his obituary says. "Shawn had a love for the fire department and helping others. He was always there to lend a hand. His kind, soft spoken, selfless character is what made Shawn – Shawn. He truly was a gentle giant."

A funeral will be held for Giles Friday at 4 p.m. at Gravel Pit Park, 10300 W. Main St, in North East. Viewing will start at 1 p.m. and run until the time of the service.

'He wasn't going to step out of the way'

Fuller Hose Lt. Doug Slater was a fellow 1989 North East High School classmate and friend of Giles. Slater was the second emergency responder on the scene of the initial motor-vehicle accident. After firefighters cleared the scene, Giles relieved another firefighter who had been directing traffic so that state troopers could continue their investigation into the crash.

More: North East firefighter killed directing traffic at crash Sunday identified

"What's weighing on me is the fact that when we cleared the first scene, everybody was OK, everybody went home," he said. "You know, that's our motto out there is everybody goes home. So everybody went home.

"They stuck around to help the troopers out," Slater said of the fire-police officers. "I believe Shawn got in the way of that car to protect everybody else. He wasn't going to step out of the way. Shawn was going to take whatever he had to, to block that car from hitting anybody else. I believe Shawn gave his life to save others."

Slater echoed what many others have said about the tragedy: that it should have never happened.

"When you clear (a crash scene), everybody's supposed to be gone, everybody's supposed to be OK," he said, "but the fire-police always stick around. And it was hard knowing that that happened after we cleared the scene. This wasn't fair. It's not fair."

Until Giles, the Fuller Hose Co. had never suffered a line-of-duty death since its inception on Dec. 31, 1885.

Community outpouring

Fire departments from across Erie County offered their condolences on social media Sunday and Monday.

"Our Hearts go out to the members of Fuller Hose Company #1 and his family." the neighboring Harborcreek Fire Department wrote on its Facebook page. "This incident has left us all in shock and heartbroken. Please slow down."

Several departments adopted the Fuller Hose Co.'s emblem — with a black bar across the center to signify the loss of a member — as their social media profile picture.

Public officials also offered their support to Giles' family and fellow firefighters.

Erie County Executive Brenton Davis expressed "thoughts and heartfelt sympathies" on behalf of county residents.

"This terrible tragedy is a reminder of the dangers our courageous firefighters face daily while working to keep our communities safe," Davis said. "We owe them our deepest respect and gratitude and will always honor their bravery and sacrifices."

Davis has ordered that the county flag be flown at half staff and for the Erie County Courthouse to be illuminated red in honor of Giles.

"This is a tragedy, and it could have been avoided," Erie Mayor Joseph Schember said in a statement. "I offer my deepest condolences and sympathy to the Firefighter Giles’ family and to the Fuller Hose Co."

Giles' striking coworkers at Wabtec also honored him Monday.

Shortly after noon, John Miles, business agent for UE Local 506 at Wabtec, led hundreds of UE members in a moment of silence for Giles at Napier Park in Lawrence Park Township. The striking workers had gathered for a previously scheduled rally as they continue to negotiate a new contract with the company.

More: Sen. John Fetterman, local leaders appear Monday at Erie UE rally attended by hundreds

'Whatever is in our means'

Scott Slawson, president of Local 506 of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, said Giles was not the first union member to die since the union went on strike on June 22.

"Obviously, our thoughts and prayers go out to the families," he said. "In this case, this young man died in service in the community, which is something we pride ourselves on."

The union's business agent, he said, would help determine what help the UE might be able to provide.

"We try to always help wherever we can. We will do whatever is in our means," Slawson said.

Wabtec spokesman Tim Bader said late Monday afternoon that the company will provide the full package of benefits for Giles.

Matthew Rink can be reached at mrink@timesnews.com.

Erie Times-News staff writer Jim Martin contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: North East firefighter killed Sunday honored by fellow first responders