A horrifying incident unfolded in Windham, Connecticut on Tuesday morning, leaving a man in a wheelchair with severe injuries after colliding with the rear wheels of a moving tractor trailer. The unfortunate accident took place on August 1st, precisely at 11:30 a.m., at the intersection of West Main Street, Cantor Drive, and Route 6.
Coincidentally, fire crews were returning to the station following a training session when they stumbled upon an elderly man lying in the middle of the intersection. Acting swiftly, they halted to provide immediate assistance. It was during this critical moment that the driver of a nearby tractor trailer truck approached them, revealing that the wheelchair operator had tragically rolled into the rear wheels of the massive vehicle, as shared by Willimantic Fire Chief Marc Scrivener in an interview with the Trumbull Times.
Recognizing the grave nature of the situation, emergency responders swiftly requested assistance from a mutual aid ambulance from Mansfield and Windham Hospital Paramedics. The severity of the victim's injuries prompted the dispatch of Lifestar to Windham Hospital's landing pad. Regrettably, the man's injuries were deemed life-threatening, casting a somber shadow over the entire incident.
In the aftermath of the collision, West Main Street is expected to remain closed from the intersection with Route 66 to the on and off ramps of Route 6 for several hours. Authorities have mobilized the Windham Accident Reconstruction Unit and their Drone Team to meticulously investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic event, seeking answers to shed light on the sequence of events that led to this devastating collision.
This heart-wrenching accident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability faced by wheelchair users and the critical importance of vigilance and caution on the roads. As the investigation unfolds, the affected individual's loved ones and the community at large grapple with the shock and sorrow brought about by this traumatic incident.
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