Greenwich Man Dies From Injuries Suffered in Fairfield Bus Crash

Greenwich, CT- A former Greenwich man, who as a Navy pilot survived being shot down during the Vietnam War's Tet offensive, died over the weekend from injuries suffered in a Fairfield bus accident last week, police said Monday.

The man, who was in the accident Friday and died Sunday, according to his ex-wife, was identified as Francis Defreitas, 68. His ex-wife Gail, a Darien resident, said he formerly lived in Greenwich but had moved to Westport.

Around 2:30 p.m. Friday, Defreitas was standing in a Coastal Link Milford Transit District bus that was traveling in Fairfield, according to Fairfield police spokeswoman Sgt. Susan Lussier. He was thrown backward when the bus was cut off by a dark red Volkswagen that pulled over from the Post Road's left lane to the right, turning right onto Reef Road.

Defreitas suffered serious head injuries and was taken to St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, Lussier said.

"It was just a freak accident," Gail Defreitas said. "It must have been his stop because he was standing."

Police are searching for the driver of the Volkswagen, which is described as having a tan convertible top.

Even though Francis and Gail Defreitas were divorced, the couple kept in touch.

"He was a very upbeat; he saw the positive in everything," she said. "There was no negative in his world. If there was, he didn't talk about it."

The couple were originally from Hudson, Mass. Francis Defreitas joined the Navy and became a pilot, flying C-131 "Samaritan" transport planes, she said. He flew on missions in which leaflets were distributed and propaganda broadcast against the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong, she said.

During one mission, he was shot down but landed safely, she said. He also flew non-combat missions during his time in the Navy, including flying scientists into the eye of a hurricane and near volcanoes after they erupted, she said.

In civilian life, he threw himself into the computer industry, especially software sales, she said.

"Anything about computers he liked," she said. Among the companies he worked for was Xerox, she said.

Francis Defreitas rode buses because poor sight in one eye prevented him from driving, Gail Defreitas said.

An athletic person who never smoke or drank, he agreed to become an organ donor, Gail Defreitas said.

"They kept him on life support until Sunday. He donated two kidneys and a liver, and he saved three lives. He would have been happy about that," Gail Defreitas said.

The bus was slowing down on its approach to the bus stop just east of Reef Road, Lussier said. Witnesses said they believe the driver of the Volkswagen pulled into the driveway leading to the parking garage behind Borders bookstore.

"We are actively attempting to locate and talk to the operator of the VW or anyone who may have witnessed this incident," Lussier said.

Gail Defreitas said the couple were married for 20 years, but divorced in 1987. After the divorce, Francis Defreitas moved to Greenwich, where he worked at the time in computer software sales, she said.

Theyhave four children, all boys. The family was going to discuss funeral arrangements Monday evening, she said.