| Name | John O'Connell |
| Agency | Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol |
| Rank | Captain |
| Type of Firefighter | Fire Patrol |
| Age Range | 41 to 45 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 9/30/1906 |
| Cause of Death | Vehicle collision , Thrown from vehicle |
| Nature of Death | Trauma |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Responding to/returning from incident |
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Chicago |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 9/30/1906 |
| Incident Location | Street/Road |
| Incident Attribute | Traffic accidents |
On September 30, 1906, Captain John O’Connell of the Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol died in the line of duty while responding to a fire alarm near the intersection of Fleetwood and West North Avenues. O’Connell was killed, and six other firefighters were injured, when the Patrol 2 rig collided with a streetcar at the intersection of Van Buren and Sangamon Streets.
O’Connell was thrown more than twenty feet in the collision, and he landed under the damaged streetcar. Within moments, the streetcar overturned, pinning O’Connell under the vehicle and severing both of his legs.
O’Connell was transported to Grace Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was survived by his widow and five children.
Citations:
“Crash is Fatal to Fireman” Chicago Daily Tribune, October 1, 1906.