A Kingston city official died from injuries sustained when he was hit by a falling tree during the eastern Ontario storms on Friday.
Darren Smith, who was the supervisor of recreation facilities at the city of Kingston, was struck by a large maple tree that fell at his home in the Elgin, Ont., area.
According to a GoFundMe page set up for Smith’s surviving family, he died from injuries sustained during the incident.
Sheri Jenner is Darren Smith’s sister.
“It’s not confirmed and it’s just a theory but we feel a micro-burst came in off the lake, about an hour before the tornado hit down in Ottawa.”
Smith is survived by his daughter Abby, 17, his son Jason, 19, and his wife, Diane. Abby was by her fathers’ side.
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“So many people have said to me I’m sorry you had to be there but I honestly, I’m happy I was. It was meant to be that my dad and I was together in those last moments. Yeah I’m glad I was there to be able to tell him that I loved him.”
As well as working for the city for nearly 30 years, Smith was a youth hockey coach and an active member of his community.
Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson released a statement on Monday on Smith’s death.
“On behalf of Kingston city council I offer my sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time.”
Visitation is set for Friday at the Wartman Funeral Home on Collins Bay Road. A funeral service will be held Saturday at the Edith Rankin Church on Bath Road.
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