By EMS1 Staff
DELAWARE CITY, Del. — Delaware Governor Jack A. Markell signed a new law into practice on Friday morning that will protect EMS workers who put their lives at risk for helping others.
Michelle Smith’s Law, named in honor of the paramedic who was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 22 last year, will punish any reckless individuals who put first responders at mortal risk.
Delaware City Fire Co. Firefighter-Paramedic Smith died after being struck by a speeding car while tending to a motorcycle accident victim.
Sponsored by Rep. Earl G. Jaques Jr. and passed by the state General Assembly in June, House Bill 204 adds paramedics, EMTs, fire marshals, and fire police officers to a list of first responders whose death can result in a first-degree murder charge.
Older legislation only protected on-duty law enforcement officers, corrections employees, and firefighters, resulting in first-degree murder charges and capital punishment for those accused of causing the reckless death of certain responders.
Rep. Jaques said that he introduced the legislation following Smith’s death when he learned that not all first responders were covered under the law.