Colleagues Mourn Crash Death Of Veteran Firefighter

NIAGARA, N.Y. (AP) — Firefighters in western New York are mourning the death of a veteran professional firefighter who was killed in an off-duty traffic accident on Christmas Eve.

Fire department officials in the city of Niagara Falls say 51-year-old Carl "Keifer" Stahlman was on his way home from work when he died in Monday night's crash in the town of Niagara.

Town police say Stahlman was riding his motorcycle by the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls when a 19-year-old Grand Island woman pulled out of an exit and hit his bike.

Police say Stahlman was thrown from the motorcycle and died at the scene.

Stahlman was a 19-year-old veteran of the Niagara Falls Fire Department, including the last six as a captain.

He's survived by his wife and three children.

The accident remains under investigation.