Amherst, MA - Early Sunday morning, Bradley N. Skikne was traveling along Route 2 in Athol when he came across a three-car accident.
The 22-year-old University of Massachusetts student from Middleton, who was also an emergency medical technician, stopped to help until an ambulance and the state police arrived.
Later that morning the state police, tracking the license plate on Skikne's car, called his home to thank him for his help, said Rabbi Simcha Levenberg who knew Skikne since 2004 when he became program director of Chabad House at UMass.
EMT dies just after aiding at 1st crash
Amherst, MA – Early Sunday morning, Bradley N. Skikne was traveling along Route 2 in Athol when he came across a three-car accident.
The 22-year-old University of Massachusetts student from Middleton, who was also an emergency medical technician, stopped to help until an ambulance and the state police arrived.
Later that morning the state police, tracking the license plate on Skikne’s car, called his home to thank him for his help, said Rabbi Simcha Levenberg who knew Skikne since 2004 when he became program director of Chabad House at UMass.
Police didn’t know that a half hour after helping on the scene, Skikne was involved in a one-car accident in which he was killed. Skikne was driving west on Amherst Road in Pelham when he apparently lost control of his 2004 Toyota Matrix, state police said. His car, police said, went off the side of the road, up an embankment, then rolled back onto the road.
The cause of the accident is under investigation, police said.
Skikne, who was not wearing a safety belt, was ejected from the car. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The road was closed for four hours.
But helping others was the kind of man Skikne was, Levenberg said.
“It was very eerie (getting that call). But that was Bradley; he was always about helping other people.”
Skikne was an EMT at University Health Services and had served in the same capacity in Acton, Levenberg said.
An Orthodox Jew, Skikne was also deeply connected to his religious faith and the Chabad house. The house rents rooms and apartments and offers all kinds of activities and events to Jews and the community at large. “He initially would come every Friday night for Sabbath.”
He kept kosher and he and Levenberg led a trip to Israel for 10 days in the summer of 2005. But Skikne stayed on for two more weeks then took a semester off from UMass so he could study at a Jewish school in New York City, Levenberg said.
A biochemistry major, he would have graduated in 2007. He was thinking about becoming a dentist, Levenberg said.
“He wanted to have high quality of life” and he wanted time to spend with his family, the rabbi said. “He had a very large extended family and he was a big part of our family,” he said.
“He was also an open, friendly person. He had a lot of friends.” The community is crushed “by his tragic death,” Levenberg said.
He said there was a caravan of seven vehicles who attended Skikne’s funeral in Danvers yesterday.
In the accident in Athol, state police said that Steven P. Harte, 29, of Easton, was driving on Route 2 east when his car crossed the center lane and hit the car driven by Frank W. Wozniak, 86, of Dracut, head on, state police said.
Wozniak was taken to Athol Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Harte was taken to the hospital, then taken by helicopter to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester.
Harte was arrested at UMass Memorial on charges of motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of alcohol, motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of alcohol and with recklessness and failure to stay within marked lanes, police said.
After the accident, Route 2 was closed for two hours and traffic was diverted through a truck weighing station on Route 2.
sr
Hamokom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim.
C. Anon
That’s very tragic and shocking that an EMT (who sees accident victims all the time) would not be wearing a seat belt.
MML
Boruch dayen emes. C Anon, a little respect for the deceaced please. Bradley’s not here to defend your comment.
a.t canada
HAMAKOM YENACHEM ESCHEM
I ALSO WORK AS A EMT
PLEASE PLEASE ALWAYS WEAR A SEAT BELT
I NEVER PULL OUT A DEAD WEARING ASEAT BELT!!!
i feel terrible
boruch dayan emes! its so shoking and tragic for his family!
ISchier
Boruch Dayan Emes. And please do not judge – who knows what his state of mind was after he assisted at a fatal accident. He was probably shaken and did not remember to put on his seat belt.
chaya
Baruch Bayan Emes…Must’ve been a special person.
LA
boruch dayan hoemes
So sad- I just saw him Sukkos
Baruch Dayan Emes.
Noach was truly a special neshama.
trouble
I did not know him well, but he was a great person.
Hamokom Yenachem eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim. Vehukeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ufur vehu besochom!
BIORUCH DAYAN HOEMES is what we must say
when hashem wants to take someone he finds his ways, even someone who sees the results of no seat belts and would most probably be so careful about it would somehow this once not have them on. We don’t know the aibishters ways. but for a young person like that who used his spare time to help others in need he deserves Gan Eden no questions asked. Hashem should give his parents the strength to survive this tragic loss.
Former Hadar Bochur
Hamokom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim – Noach was such a great guy we learned together in Hadar Hatorah
A broken-hearted mother
I did not know him but my daughter met him two weeks ago. She said he was a lovely guy who was always helping others.
shliach
As the shliach whosent thi very special guy to yeshiva in crown heights i would like to say we are all shocked and dismayed evryone should remember that hashem only takes the best.
F.R.
He was obviously a very special Neshama and his work here was done. I guess they need him there with all the good guys. I am adding something here I would love for his family to see.
Letter from Heaven
To my dearest family, some things I’d like to say.
But first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I am writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with G-d above.
Here there is no more tears of sadness, here is just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy just because I am out of sight.
Remember that I am with you every morning, noon and night.
The day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through.
G-d picked me up and hugged me and this is what He said.
“I welcome you.
It is good to have you back again.
You were missed while you were gone.
As for your dear family, they will be here later on.
I need you badly, you are part of my plan.
There is so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man.”
G-d gave me a list of things that He wished for me to do.
And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.
And when you lie in bed at night, the day’s chores put to flight,
G-d and I are closest to you…In the middle of the night.
When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years..
Because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry: it does relieve the pain
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.
I wish that I could tell you all that G-d has planned.
If I were to tell you, you would not understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is over.
I am closer to you now, than I ever was before.
There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;
But together we can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy and I would love it for you too:
That as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.
If you can help somebody who is in sorrow and pain;
Then you can say to G-d at night… “My day was not in vain.”
And now I am contented…that my life was worthwhile.
Knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.
So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low;
Just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way to go.
When you are walking down the street
And you have me on your mind:
I am walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.
And when it’s time for you to go…from that body to be free.
Remember you are not going…You are coming here to me.
Author Unknown
Hamakom yenachaim eschem bisoch shaar avalei tzion viyerushalyim
Emmitt Fitzhume
Always wear your seatbelt! It saves lives…this is a tragic waste of a talented young life…How sad.
Rabbi M.
Time for Moshiach already!
Ad Mosai!
Noah
Baruch Dayan HaEmes
He was a great kid — so friendly, always had a smile on his face.
Benny
Shocking!! What’s happening lately with these fatal accidents??!! Hamakom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Sha’ar Aveilei Tzion VeYerushalayim!!
Moshiach NOW!!!
Kohan twin
Hamakom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Sha’ar Aveilei Tzion VeYerushalayim!!
Moshiach NOW!
amazing guy…almost like my twin in many ways
to FR
thank you FR.
This is so tragic. As Noach looks down on us lets make him proud by following in his ways.
1 – help other people as Noach did in Athol. He stopped what he was doing to help a total stranger.
2 – spend more time learning Torah – Noach took time off from UMass to learn in Hadar HaTorah.
Don’t let his dying be in vain.
With prayers for the geulah – kitzu v’raneinu shochnei a-far
TO BENNY
Shalom [peace] is always a keili [vessel] that is machzik bracha [holds blessing].
The Rebbe once spoke about increasing in Ahavas Yisrael and Achdus [unity] after a similar incident.
Folly
A neshoma comes down here for an avoda. He did his with a fullheart.
Baruch Dayan HaEmes
Meira
I spent Simchat Torah with Brad in Amherst. He always smiled, he was the last one to sit down to eat and the first to get up to help, he shlepped everyone’s suitcases and drove people where they needed to be right before yontif. A real mentsch.
His neshama was a true gift from Hashem and his warmth and humour and consideration for others is so great a loss. Baruch Dayan HaEmet.
thanks to FR
thank you for that beautiful poem
I lost my parent fairly recently, and it gave me some comfort. These are things we all learn intelectually (sp?), an dknow on some level, but reading it in this article put some clearer perspective on things. Thank you and may it be the last time this poem needs to be published, bec Moshiach will have come and we will all be together with our loved ones
Ohr
First and foremost, my utmost and sincere condolences to the Skinke family.
We can surly see that this Neshama was special in so many ways, it appalls to see comments of individual questioning Hashem’s handy work with related comments about his seat belt , Shame on you all! Seat belts are important, don’t misunderstand me.
But in this great persons presence, (especilay within the Shiva) not mentioning the fact that the niftar’s name is Noach (THIS WEEKS PARSHA!), And all the circumstances that are related around this story, You have to be blind not to see the forces above nature and understanding that are taking place in Hashem’s Garden.
The “seat belt” has no relevance in this story, wake up and see the grace of g-d!
Only revealed good is what we can ask for, B’surot Tovot and good tidings!
Moshiach NOW!
TM
On that Saturday in the morning he helped the Rabbi with the Bar Mitzvah of Bradley’s first cousin of Middleton. He is was a Mentsch
My -Brother-
Everyone Should just know the extent of the Ahavas Yisroel Brad/Noach had
he was one of those pnimiestdike people that this world is surley missing out on
as a ‘family member’ of Brad’s/Noach we ask that people please take on a mitzvah to give Noach’s holy Neshama an Aliya straight to Hashem and beg him to give us Moshiach NOW and we will all be reunited with our loved ones.
Emmitt Fitzhume
Ohr…With all due respect: YOU must wake up and use the brains that g-d gave to you! It is tragic and sad that this young life has been lost…It is also tragic and sad if you supress the lesson that all MUST learn from this…seatbelts save lives in many cases. This is in no way a slight at this young man or his family…it is a chance to help to prevent future tragedies!!!
BD H
ATT F.R. :
THAT WAS A BEUTIFULL POEM!! I PRINTED IT OUT AND WE ALL LOVE IT.
BORUCH DAYAN HA’EMES.
His Brother
it is really hard for our family but we are proud to say that our chabad of the merrimac valley will recieve a new torach in his honor. It would be nice for anyone to donate
His brother
That poem HAS helped me a lot, if i find time, I will show my parents and sister
bifeirush not a seatbelt
as a lubavich emt, i have worked with MANY NYC paramedics who do not where seat belts, even in code 1. you’d be suprised but its true. many of those who see and deal with the victems of car accidents have differing opinions as for the effectiveness of the use of a seat belt. many claim that althogh under high speed conditions such as on the highway, there is no way out of a seat belt, but at lower speeds it is not only unnecesary but like airbags, can do damage. notice these Paramedics of NYC are known to be the finest in the nation. some of the reasons:
1. seatbelts save lives in highway speed conditions, not city speeds.
2. on front impact many times they see paitents whos seatbelt has injured the lower abdomen, sometimes even the hip bones.
3.seat belts can leave a victem trapped if the vehicle is pinned.
4. a seatbelt will delay the time it takes to escape a submerged vehicle or a fire.
PS. this is not intended in any way to discorage the use of seatbelts, c"v. in the long run statistics show the shortcomings are outwehighd by their benifit. it is just a brain opener to all of the misinformed public that there is more to the common knollege and statistics to the use of seatbelts, and your hearing this from the front lines.