 |
| April 20, 2024 |
Welcome! Click here to Login
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Click to visit the
Official Town Site
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Robert Henriksen took this photo of the emergency personnel responding to the van accident on the Thruway. |
September 21, 2010
To the Editor:
A beautiful day ended with a tragic accident that occurred on Saturday, September 18th at appproximately 3 o'clock in the afternoon on Interstate Highway 87 northbound between Woodbury and Newburgh. A van carrying 14 passengers flipped over, killing six and leaving others severely injured. The survivors were flown to Westchester Medical Center and some were taken to Good Samaritan and Saint Francis Hospitals. Close to 100 policemen, firemen, EMS and rescue workers, as well as bystanders, helped out and all worked valiantly to take control of an otherwise chaotic scene. Some of the first responders were from the local Woodbury, Monroe, Cornwall, Central Valley and New Windsor vicinities.
When I arrived at the scene after a half-mile run through the woods that started on Route 32 near the winery, I witnessed a chaotic scene that words can't describe. I walked around the scene photographing the carnage and trying not to look at the grim scene before me, then I began to focus on the actions of the rescuers and what they were doing to save lives, rather than why they were doing it. That's what helped me get over what I was actually photographing. I used them as a diversion to help me get over what I was doing.
It was the combined efforts of everyone, including the veteran first responders, that gave strength to the others and helped them get the job done before the stark reality sank in as to what had happened. As the helicopters started to take off and the ambulances left with the victims, the scene was scattered with rescue workers.
Some of the younger rescue workers were traumatized, tired, and bewildered because of what they had witnessed, but they, along with the veterans, played a vital role in bringing the chaos to a closing. These are the young men and women that the community should be thanking and that young people should look to as everyday heroes.
Once the scene cleared, scattered on the highway were sad reminders of what everyone had just experienced. One beautiful and touching moment for me was watching as the rescue workers carefully began to pick up the pictures and personal belongings with such reverence for these people who were following God and who are now with God. "God bless them, their families, loved ones, and everyone who helped them," I thought to myself as I walked down the thruway and back into the woods.
Robert Henriksen
Cornwall
Comments:
|
A compelling story. I hope this person is a paid journalist. Otherwise it seems kind of goulish...
Just saying
posted by Ted Warren on 09/22/10 at 11:22 AM
|
|
This is truly a heart breaking story. As the mother of one of those young EMS workers I would like to say thank you for telling the story of what they do in such a compelling way. It is a tough job and we are very fortunate to have so many in our community willing to be there for others.
posted by Susan Armitage on 09/22/10 at 9:31 PM
|
|
Sorry, I meant the picture taking, not the letter itself.
posted by Ted Warren on 09/27/10 at 9:50 AM
|
Add a Comment:
Please signup or login to add a comment.
|
 |
|
|
|
