Car crash takes life of North Canaan man

NORTH CANAAN — Police are still investigating a fatal accident and what caused a North Canaan man to drive off the road and into a house Aug. 17.

David T. Schmitt Jr., 45, was traveling north on Allyndale Road at about 9:30 p.m. He was headed in the direction of, and only about a mile from, his home at 105 Clayton Road.

The house Schmitt’s 1995 Subaru Impreza hit is set back about 50 feet from the road. Tire tracks are clearly visible in the lawn to the south side of the house. They show the car traveled in a straight path into the side of the house at 55 Allyndale Road. A crack is visible in the home’s foundation.

In the car with Schmitt was James Madsen, 52, of 101 Clayton Road. A call to his home revealed Madsen is “rarely there�
and no other way of contacting him is available. According to police, Madsen was not injured.

Schmitt was pronounced dead at Sharon Hospital, reportedly of internal injuries. An obituary is on Page A8.

Sources offered unconfirmed information that Schmitt had not been drinking at the time of the accident. It appears he may have suffered a medical episode that caused him to lose consciousness while driving. An autopsy has been performed. Results are not available yet.

Schmitt’s longtime friend, Jim Britt  of Salisbury, said, “He had a problem at one time, but he was a great guy who was turning his life around. He recently began turning his talent for woodworking into making lathe-turned lamps, bowls and vases in a Canaan workshop. He did beautiful work that was sold at craft shows,â€� Britt said. “He also spent a lot of time taking care of his family. He cooked every meal for his parents and his brother, Greg. I don’t know what they are going to do without him.â€�

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