Top Cop January 2008

On January 19, 2008 Second Precinct Police Officers responded to a serious auto accident on Woodbury Rd in Plainview. A car had crashed through a utility pole before crashing into a tree. The first Officer on scene requested ESU and an ambulance forthwith.

Emergency Services Officers John Schmaeling and Scott Gregory assigned to Truck 2422 were already en route when they heard the forthwith response. ESU Sgt. Michael Kitson in RMP 2402 and Highway Patrol Officer Kyle Poppe in RMP 2257 heard the assignment and responded to assist in the rescue.

When the Officers arrived on scene they found a car wrapped around a tree with two seriously injured occupants that required immediate extraction. The utility pole was across the roadway and several live electric power lines were lying on the ground surrounding the vehicle and were tangled within the wreckage. LIPA was requested but no ETA was available. The Officers could not wait, they realized the danger that the live power lines presented and decided together that they must help save the occupants lives. Using hydraulic tools the officers cut the passenger out of the twisted metal. During the entire rescue the Officers had to use extreme caution due to all of the live power lines. The passenger due to his injuries was very combative making the rescue even more dangerous. The passenger received very serious injuries and was quickly transported to NUMC. Regretfully the driver of the vehicle did not survive the crash and was pronounced dead at scene.

These four Officers with complete disregard for their own safety, risked their lives to save another human being. Their courage and dedication is a tribute to us all.

Posted Friday, February 1, 2008

 E-mail this page
 Printer-friendly page