EMT dies in ambulance crash
NEAL P. GOSWAMI, Staff Writer
Posted: 06/16/2009 02:59:37 AM EDT
Tuesday, June 16
BENNINGTON — Longtime Bennington Rescue Squad member Dale R. Long
responded to emergency calls and saved numerous lives over 25 years. On Monday, his
colleagues were called upon to save him, but the impact of the ambulance
Long was driving and a large pine tree on West Road proved too great.
Traveling at regular speed
The ambulance was heading to the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center with
its emergency lights on, but was traveling at regular speed, according to
Bennington Police Lt. Paul Doucette. “Speed was not a factor in this,” he
said.
Three others, including a patient being transported in the ambulance when
the crash occurred, were rushed to area hospitals. Mitchell Vincelette, 42,
a paramedic, was treated and released at SVMC. A female training to be a
paramedic is receiving continued treatment for non-life threatening injuries
at the Bennington hospital, according to Doucette.
The 60-year-old female patient, who has not been identified by police, was
being transported from the Hoosick Falls Health Center in Hoosick Falls,
N.Y. She was taken a short distance by ambulance to Route 279 where she was
transferred to a helicopter and brought to Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center,
with potentially life-threatening injuries that were not specified, according
to Doucette.
The highway was closed for several hours after the crash.
Long, 48, was employed by SVMC as an emergency room clerk, according to
interim CEO Dr. Mark Novotny. He said Long was named the Bennington Rescue
Squad’s EMT of the year in 2008, and also received the Star of Life award last
year from the state of Vermont, which is awarded to an EMT who shows the
greatest commitment to the job.
Rescue personnel were alerted to the crash by Vincelette, who sent a
chilling radio transmission around 3:30 p.m. pleading for immediate police, fire
and rescue squad members to respond. Vincelette also sought a helicopter,
but rescue personnel had trouble initially securing one because of poor
weather conditions.
Doucette said the crash occurred when the ambulance, which was heading east
on West Road, veered right, causing the front passenger side of the
ambulance to strike the driver’s side front quarter panel of a 2008 Toyota pickup
truck driven by William Hill, Doucette said. Hill was at a complete stop
at the intersection of West and Pleasant Valley Roads.
The impact caused the pickup to spin clockwise. Meanwhile, the ambulance
continued moving forward off the travel portion of West Road and into a large
pine tree, causing “extensive intrusion” to the driver’s seat, according
to Doucette.
Mark Tronson, who lives across the street from where the crash occurred,
said he heard the crash and dialed 911.
“It sounded like an explosion of glass and metal. Right then I knew it was
a car accident,” Tronson said.
Police do not yet know why the ambulance veered off the road and the crash
remains under investigation, Doucette said. Evidence from the scene and
eyewitness accounts indicate no sudden movements by the ambulance, he said.
“We’ve got to try to determine what happened. At this point in the
investigation the paramedic and the trainee are not able to offer us any
information. They just know that there was an impact,” Doucette said. “The vehicle
just kind of veered off to the side.”
Members of the Bennington Rural Fire Department were able to extricate Long
from the front of the ambulance, which was severely compacted. Rescue
personnel had to fight through a sustained heavy rain with thunder and lighting
as they worked to save their colleagues and the patient they were caring
for.
“It’s heart-wrenching. This crash is truly tragic for the Long family, for
members of the Bennington Rescue Squad. I would go as far as saying it
affects all of the emergency services personnel in the area,” Doucette said.
“You just never know, and it’s devastating when it’s one of your own, but you
have to keep your composure and you have to keep driving forward. That’s
what my hope is for all of the people that are involved.”
Novotny said he had known Long for about 25 years and had worked with him
on the Manchester Rescue Squad. “Dale is one of those people who is always
ready to help. Always positive and really good at what he does,” Novotny
said.
Long was “just a wonderful man,” according to Novotny, who said he met with
ER staff Monday evening to see how they wanted to honor Long’s life.
Novotny said the hospital will hold a memorial service some time this week.
In an interview with the Banner in November 2008, Long said he found his
passion when he became an EMT about 25 years ago.
“I started working here because it just felt like something was missing in
my life,” Long told the Banner. “I took my first class, went out on my
first call, and a light bulb went off. I found what I was looking for, and I’ve
been doing it ever since.”
Doucette said police will continue to investigate the crash to help answer
questions family, friends and the community have about why it occurred.
“A lot of times, when investigations are complete and you can share
information, all of the information with people, it kind of puts them at ease. It
puts people’s minds at ease. That’s what we’re hoping for,” Doucette said.
“We know how the crash itself occurred, but now we need to know why it
happened. What caused him to veer to the right?”
The Bennington Rescue Squad held a mandatory meeting Monday evening for all
members.
Ambulance driver killed in crash
Neal P. Goswami
Posted: 06/15/2009 04:53:56 PM EDT
BENNINGTON – A Bennington Rescue Squad ambulance left the highway and
crashed into a tree off West Road Monday afternoon, killing the driver,
according to a Bennington Police Officer.
The officer said the driver, who had not yet been identified, was
pronounced dead at the scene, but transported to the Southwestern Vermont Medical
Center. At least two other passengers in the ambulance, including a patient
who was being transported when the crash occurred, were taken to the
hospital. Their conditions were unavailable.
Bennington County State’s Attorney Erica Marthage was on scene, indicating
the accident resulted in a fatality.
The crashed occurred near My Land Farm around 3:30 p.m. A law enforcement
officer at the scene said police did not know the cause of the accident.
Rescuers worked in a steady rain with thunder and lightning to free the
ambulance’s occupants.
Mark Tronson, who lives across the street from where the crash occurred,
said he heard the crash and dialed 911.
“It sounded like an explosion of glass and metal. Right then I knew it was
a car accident,” he said.
Read Tuesday’s edition of the Banner for more details.
Bennington ambulance driver dies in crash
Rutland Herald Staff – Published: June 16, 2009
BENNINGTON — A Bennington Rescue Squad member was killed when the ambulance
he was driving struck a tree off West Road on Monday afternoon and the
patient in the ambulance received serious injuries.
Dale Long, 48, was pronounced dead at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center,
according to the Bennington Police Department.
Long was transporting a 60-year-old patient from the Hoosick Falls Health
Center in New York to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington at
the time of the accident. Police did not release the name of the patient,
who was taken by helicopter to Albany Medical Center in New York.
Police said Long left the health center around 3:20 p.m. and on East Road,
the ambulance Long was driving veered to the right side, colliding with a
pickup truck parked off the road, causing the truck to spin and the
ambulance to leavet the road.
The ambulance hit a large pine tree which caused extensive intrusion
damage to the driver’s compartment, police said. Officials said they didn’t know
whether a severe thunderstorm in the area played a role in the accident.
Ambulance Driver Killed in Accident
Photo by Neal P. Goswami/Bennington Banner
Photo by Neal P. Goswami/Bennington Banner
Dale Long
Bennington, Vermont – June 15, 2009
A longtime Bennington ambulance driver was killed Monday after an accident
while transporting a patient to the hospital.
Police say Dale Long, 49, was driving the Bennington Rescue Squad
Ambulance on West Road, when he hit a truck and then crashed into a tree during a
hail storm. The driver of the truck was not hurt. The patient in the
ambulance was seriously injured in the accident, and airlifted to the Albany
Medical Center.
Long had been an EMT for 25 years and has won numerous national and local
awards including Vermont’s rescuer of the year in 1998.
WCAX News
Vt. man dies after crashing ambulance into tree
(http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php)
Associated Press – June 16, 2009 5:05 AM ET
BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) – A Bennington ambulance driver has died after
crashing his rescue vehicle into a parked truck and then a tree.
A 60-year-old patient in the back of the ambulance was seriously injured in
the crash Monday afternoon.
The Bennington Police Department says 48-year-old Dale Long was
transporting a patient to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center when the ambulance
veered off West Road and hit a parked pickup truck. Police say the ambulance
spun and struck a large pine tree.
Long was pronounced dead at the medical center. The unidentified patient
was taken by helicopter to Albany Medical Center in New York.
Officials say they don’t yet know whether a severe thunderstorm in the area
contributed to the crash.
Godspeed Everytone. Be safe out there.
