CLAY COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The Clay County community has lost a volunteer firefighter, deputy coroner, and a friend.
Shortly after midnight on Saturday, April 5th, members of the Posey Township Clay County Volunteer Fire Department were dispatched to a report of a stranded motorist in high water on State Road 42.
Fire Chief Cody Barnard said, while responding, Clay County Dispatch received a second call.
“We received a second 911 call in our neighboring township of a vehicle that had went off the roadway, striking a tree”, Barnard said. “Our neighboring department responded to that accident where they discovered it was a member of our department, who is believed to have been responding to the initial call.”
The driver of the vehicle was 60-year-old Roy Smith, a member of several Clay County Volunteer Fire Departments.
Smith was believed to be driving through flooded conditions to help the stranded motorist.
Clay County Coroner, Lexi Gass, said Smith would always do anything to help
“He would do anything he could”, Gass said. “Whether it was someone calling to fix a leaky pipe or an actual emergency, he was always there. It didn’t matter the circumstance, it didn’t matter the time of day, it didn’t matter what he was doing. He would drop whatever he was doing to help someone else.”
First responders say Smith was unconscious upon arrival and was rushed to St. Vincent Clay Hospital before he succumbed to his injuries.
Gass said the case was handed off to Parke County because of Smith’s involvement as a Clay County Deputy Coroner.
“We both worked under Nick French”, Gass said. “Roy was Nick’s Chief Deputy. He worked for Nick since, I believe, 2017, when Nick first started, then he stayed on with my team. We had a really close bond, the four of us did, and he was a huge mentor to all of us.”
Chief Barnard said he already misses hearing Roy’s voice.
“No matter what you were talking about, good or bad, Roy always had a story”, Barnard said. “I think that’s what I’m going to miss the most. It didn’t matter what you were talking about, he had a story or two. You could have the worst day of your life, and somehow he could pop off a one-liner or a joke and make you laugh and just forget about your troubles.”
With his passing, many are hopeful Roy’s generosity will inspire others.
“It’s going to be really hard”, Gass said. “There’s no way that anybody can replace Roy. He was one of a kind, he went above and beyond in every single thing he did. He never wanted any credit for anything, he did it quietly and humbly. He was an amazing person, and the world needs more Roy Smiths.”
The funeral will be this coming Sunday, April 13th, at the Clay County 4-H Fairgrounds.
Public viewing will be from noon until 6 p.m.
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