Mass. FF dies from injuries suffered in 2006 apparatus incident

WORCESTER, Mass. — A Worcester firefighter has died from injuries from a fire truck suffered on the job in 2006 that forced him into retirement in 2008.

Worcester Firefighter Mark Stomski was injured at the McKeon Road fire station when the brakes on a parked fire truck failed, causing the truck to roll backward and a door to slam into his chest, the Telegram & Gazette reported.

He sustained significant bruising to his chest, experienced ongoing pain and struggled with shortness of breath. A medical examination later revealed blood clots in his lungs, requiring him to use bottled oxygen to assist with breathing.

Medications failed to resolve the clotting, prompting Stomski to seek treatment at the University of California San Diego’s Thornton Hospital, where he was also diagnosed with secondary pulmonary hypertension, a lung blood vessel disorder.

Stomski died on Jan. 11. The department is in contact with the family and may release more information later.