I-70 bridge renamed in honor of Smelser

By Paul Peirce

Trib Total Media

When drivers cross the newly named Matthew C. Smelser Bridge on Interstate 70 in South Huntingdon, Smelser’s niece, Krisi Secrist, said she hopes motorists recall the joy her uncle had helping others.

“You never had to ask Matt for help, he was always there to do anything for anyone and, despite his busy schedule, always found a way to share in our moments,” Secrist said.

Secrist spoke Friday to about 50 family members, friends and co-workers from Rostraver-West Newton EMS who gathered for a dedication ceremony of new memorial signs renaming the bridge in Smelser’s memory. Signs were erected on both sides of the bridge that spans the Youghiogheny River connecting South Huntingdon and Rostraver Township.

Smelser, 43, was a paramedic supervisor when he was killed Jan. 5 on a rescue call at the bridge.

He was struck and killed about 5:30 a.m. Jan. 5 by a tractor-trailer after he got out of his ambulance to tend to an accident victim along the interstate highway.

Secrist said, even after Smelser and his wife, Lynn, had their own children, Logan and Adriana, “we could still count on Uncle Matt to build our new toys and set up our new electronics for us” during Christmas season.

“Next week will be one of the hardest for us, our first Christmas without Matt,” she said.

To read the rest of the story, please see a copy of Saturday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at http://monvalleyindependent.com.