Easton first responders save motorcyclist after crash

June 01--EASTON -- When firefighters arrived at Foundry and Turnpike streets responding to a crash Sunday morning, they found a man lying in the road.

The motorcyclist fell off his bicycle when he collided with a car and suffered serious injuries.

Fire Capt. Evan Malone and firefighter Darren Stone quickly responded on engine four -- the dispatcher telling the men the 911 callers weren't sure if anyone was injured.

"Engine four is off. One person down, we're checking," Malone said to dispatch over his radio, minutes after the call came in.

Less than a minute later, he asked dispatch to check on the availability of MedFlight, a medical helicopter that provides critical care transport.

It was that quick response that gave the victim, 77-year-old William Wilton, the best chance to survive, the town's fire chief said.

"It was definitely one of the more significant trauma impact incidents that we've had in a while," Fire Chief Kevin Partridge told The Enterprise. "The gentleman was pretty badly injured -- multiple fractures."

About the same time engine four arrived to the scene, ambulance one arrived and firefighters Timothy Vamosi and Shawn Goyette jumped in and helped with rendering first aid.

Easton police officers Beverley McRoberts, Matt Badoud, Jeffrey Fuller and Lt. Keith Nunes arrived shortly after and assisted firefighters.

"The most severe injury being his leg -- it was in tough shape," Partridge said. "They did a great job. They assessed the situation properly and got the helicopter going."

Dr. Henry Crowley, the town's service medical director, also responded to help assess the man's injuries and necessary treatment.

Wilton was treated at the scene and taken by an Easton ambulance to Southeastern Regional Vocational-Technical High School, where a medical helicopter landed and flew the motorcyclist to Rhode Island Hospital.

"We heard from the doctor at the hospital that the actions the paramedics took on scene saved his life," Partridge said.

It was a simple tourniquet to Wilton's leg to stop bleeding that made the biggest impact, the doctor told Partridge.

Wilton was still listed in critical condition at Rhode Island Hospital as of Tuesday morning, according to Gail Francis, a hospital spokeswoman.

Witnesses to the collision told police Wilton was riding south on Turnpike Street when he went through a red stoplight and collided with a sedan driving east on Foundry Street.

Wilton is expected to be hospitalized for an extended period of time due to severity of his injuries. Attempts to reach his family were unsuccessful Tuesday.

"The crews did a great job to save the victim," Partridge said.

Copyright 2016 - The Enterprise, Brockton, Mass.