EMS official dies of heart attack after responding to car crash involving his daughter

A New Jersey EMS official who had served his community as a civil servant for more than three decades died of a heart attack after he responded to a car crash involving his daughter, officials said.

Captain Eskil “Scott” Danielson, 49, discovered his 19-year-old daughter was involved in a car crash as he and the rest of the Lakeland Rescue Squad responded to the scene about 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“He had gotten up to go to that accident and within a few minutes, he had gotten a phone call from his daughter letting him know that she was in the accident,” his brother, Andover Township Police Chief Eric Danielson, told INSIDE EDITION.

After he helped treat his daughter, Alycia, and the other occupant of the other vehicle, Scott Danielson traveled to Newton Medical Center to check on her well-being, Eric Danielson said.

 

Scott Danielson suffered a massive heart attack and collapsed in the waiting room, his brother said. He was airlifted to Morristown Medical Center about 4:30 p.m. but could not be saved and was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m., authorities said.

“They were hoping to do a medical procedure, but ultimately his heart wasn’t strong enough anymore,” Eric Danielson said.

Alycia Danielson was treated and released from the hospital that same day.

“I love you so much, daddy. I’ll take good care of mom, I promise. Please watch over us,” his daughter wrote on Facebook.

Scott Danielson leaves behind his wife, Tammy; his son, Aaron, 28, who is with the U.S. Air Force; and his 21-year-old daughter, Amanda. He is also survived by his father, Eskil “Skip” Danielson, retired from the Byram Township Police Department, where he served as police chief for 22 years, his mother Judy Danielson, and brother Kevin Danielson, who serves as a firefighter in Clifton.