Thomas P. Carey was born November 9, 1909, at East Plymouth, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the State Highway Patrol from East Plymouth on May 2, 1935, and was assigned to Troop E, Philadelphia. As a result of the State Police/Highway Patrol merger, he was reassigned to Troop C-4, Reading. He was 25 years old and 5'11½" tall.
At 8:20 p.m. on June 17, 1941, Private Carey and Private J. J. Comerford were dispatched to a crash on U. S. Route 22 near Boltz's Corner, Berks County. Upon arrival, they saw two occupants trapped in a wrecked vehicle that was in flames. Private Carey assisted firefighters by using a state-issued carbon tetrachloride extinguisher. He became ill immediately and was taken to a nearby doctor's office, where he collapsed and died at 10:00 p.m. Dr. Paul D. Good, Berks County Coroner, attributed death to acute suffocation caused by poisonous fumes.
All carbon tetrachloride extinguishers were withdrawn from service and replaced with non-toxic extinguishers.
Private Carey is buried in Duncannon Cemetery, Duncannon. He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary M. Carey, of Duncannon. At 31, he had completed six years and one month of Pennsylvania Motor Police service.
