South Salem fire: Man died trying to save his auto shop

An auto body shop owner killed in a fire at his shop late Wednesday night was trapped as he fought to save his business, state police said Friday.

James O'Connor, 48, died of burns and smoke inhalation in the fire, which broke out about 10 p.m. at South Salem Auto Repair, at 1 Old Oscaleta Road.

State police spokeswoman Melissa McMorris said the preliminary investigation showed O'Connor had been working on a Volkswagen Golf next to his shop when the engine caught fire.

She said it appeared he first tried to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher, but was unsuccessful.

At that point, he tried pushing the vehicle away from the building from the driver's side. As he did, it sideswiped a parked vehicle, knocking him back inside the burning vehicle and pinning him inside, state police Investigator Joseph Becerra said.

The fire was called in by a neighbor, who heard a popping noise then spotted the fire across the street.

Firefighters who extinguished the blaze discovered O'Connor's body. State police, their forensic unit and the Westchester County Cause and Origin team then responded to the scene.

Becerra said O'Connor — a married father from Brookfield, Connecticut — had worked at that location for over 20 years. According to his family, it was not unusual for him to work late at the shop, Becerra said.

O'Connor was raised in South Salem and graduated from John Jay High School, according to an obituary from his family. After teaching himself how to fix cars, he started a repair business from his parents' garage and opened South Salem Auto Repair, where he met his wife, Rose, a North Salem native.

O'Connor is survived by his wife; children James, Clare, Grant and Quentin; and siblings, Daniel and Karen. He was predeceased by his daughter, Margaret.

A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Katonah.