Town councilman and firefighter dies in motorcycle crash

A motorcycle crash near Georgetown killed a Delmarva firefighter and paramedic, officials confirmed Thursday.

Howard Alan Schweitzer, a firefighter and paramedic with the Ocean City Fire Department, was operating a motorcycle near the intersection of West Piney Grove Road and East Trap Pond Road west of Georgetown when he was involved in a fatal crash, police said.

Delaware State Police said Schweitzer, 62, of Laurel, was riding his Harley-Davidson north on East Trap Pond Road, when a vehicle driven by Yajira Quintana-Tinoco, 31 of Seaford, failed to remain stopped at the intersection with Piney Grove Road and drove directly into the path of his motorcycle. Schweitzer, who was wearing a helmet, was ejected from the motorcycle and died at the scene, police said in a news release.

The crash occurred at about 11:07 a.m. Thursday, said Sgt. Richard Bratz, a Delaware State Police spokesman.

Quintana-Tinoco and two juvenile passengers in her vehicle were uninjured. Police are still investigating.

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"It's devastating," said Jessica Waters, Ocean City spokeswoman. "I know that the fire departments are grieving as is the town as a whole. It's just a terrible loss for the town and the fire department."

John Shwed, the mayor of Laurel, knew Schweitzer since they were young.

Schweitzer had just been sworn in by Shwed on Monday, April 17 as councilman-at-large for Laurel's Ward 3. Shwed said this marked a return to the council after a three-year absence, and Schweitzer was excited to be returning to guiding the town's future.

"He and his wife, Jennifer, attend my church, St. Phillip's Episcopal," Shwed said. "I knew them since they became sweethearts, got married and grew a family."

Shwed said Schweitzer was close to retiring from the Ocean City Fire Department.

"He was a very dedicated firefighter. He loved working with the fire company and helping people," Shwed said. "We're really saddened by this loss to the community. He was about two months from retirement from the Ocean City company and he was looking forward to coming home and spending more time in Laurel. Unfortunately, he doesn't get to do that now.

"We will miss him."

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According to multiple fire departments' Facebook pages, Schweitzer was also connected with the Sussex County Technical Rescue team.

"Alan was a dedicated member of our department for 27 years," Laurel Fire Department Chief Tim West said in a statement. "He served in a variety of positions and mentored many of our younger and new members. He had a kind heart and a gentle soul. The department and the community have suffered a great loss today. He will be greatly missed."

Schweitzer's next of kin have been notified, Waters said.

Police said impairment is not being considered as a factor in the crash.

The intersection of East Trap Pond Road and Piney Grove Road was closed for about two and a half hours as the crash was investigated and cleared, police said.