<p>Police chief Bruce McNamee said good samaritans, police officers, firefighters and paramedics saved a man’s life after a medical emergency caused him to crash his car Friday morning.</p>
Edgartown police chief Bruce McNamee credited good samaritans, police officers, fire department volunteers and paramedics for saving a man’s life after a medical emergency caused him to crash his car Friday morning.
The man, a 67-year-old seasonal resident from Connecticut who has not been named, was driving on North Water street around 8 a.m. when an apparent medical emergency caused him to lose consciousness and crash his white Chevy Colorado pickup into a 2005 Jeep parked just north of Vineyard Vines, the chief said. Describing the incident, police said the pickup pushed the parked car down North Water street until it collided with a telephone pole, causing the truck to spin out and come to rest near a granite pillar in front of the Newes from America pub, taking out the pub’s brick planter.
Off-duty police Det. Mike Snowden was driving near the scene and stopped to investigate. He came upon passersby extricating the man from his vehicle, which was filled with smoke. One bystander who appeared to be a construction worker had smashed a window of the truck with a hammer to unlock the doors and pull the man out. Checking the man’s vital signs, Mr. Snowden felt no pulse and began to administer CPR. Sgt. Joel DeRoche arrived and assisted with CPR until Edgartown fire chief Alex Schaeffer arrived with paramedic Haley Krauss.
Mr. Schaeffer and Ms. Krauss continued CPR and used a defibrillator to revive the man’s pulse. The man was then taken by ambulance to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, where his condition was stable enough to allow air transport to Boston.
Chief McNamee praised the response.
“It’s one of the rare occasions where all the right guys were in the right place at the right time,” he said.
Chief Schaeffer concurred. “We had a great response from our department because in addition to the ambulance, the motor vehicle accident had to be taken care of,” he said. “We had a lot of people coming from work to help us,” he said of the fire department volunteers.
Police said the man was transported to Boston Medical Center, where he remains in serious condition in the cardiac unit.

Comments
This is a great story. But
David JanuszewskiThis is a great story. But you left out the heroic role of our friend Gail Morey, a nurse who happened to be nearby, and who was first on the scene and administered CPR. She saved a life today.
And it would be nice to know
JanainaAnd it would be nice to know who is the construction worker too.
I am the individual who was
Michael Neubert North Haven,CTI am the individual who was rescued and I want thank everyone who helped save my life - Detective Mike Snowden, the construction worker who helped get me out of my truck, Sgt. Joel LeRouche, Fire Chief Alex Schaeffer and paramedic Haey Krauss. I hope haven’t left anyone out. I am resting comfortably at Boston Medical - all for to heroic intervention on behalf. I can’t thank you enough - you saved my life!
Wasn't involved in your
Island EMSWasn't involved in your rescue, but know you got some of the best care available on the Island. Rest up and get well soon!
Thanks to Gail Morey as well.
Michael Neubert North Haven, CTThanks to Gail Morey as well.
Hi Michael,
Gail Morey Natick maHi Michael,
I’m glad that you’re resting comfortably and doing well. I want you to know that Maurice Scott a worker at Murdock‘s bakery and his nephew Deville Richards we’re the ones who rescued you from your vehicle. Again , I am glad you are safe and doing well!!!!
My husband Paul and I were
Paul & Diane Cantin Concord, NHMy husband Paul and I were vacationing in Edgartown and staying at the Vineyards Hotel and Suites.
My husband was sitting on the porch enjoying a cup of coffee and the view of the Harbor and was waiting for me to come down and join him for breakfast. I just happened to look out the window of our third floor suite and saw your truck moving oddly down the street. I then watched your truck hit the parked Jeep. I saw my husband sprint of the porch trying to get close to your now smoking truck all the while trying to get the driver door open.
I called the front desk to report the serious car accident out front of the hotel and told them to PLEASE call 911.
I came out to the porch to see several workman, one with a hammer breaking the driver side window. The same men opened then door and pulled you out and then a wonderful nurse just happened to come by and immediately started CPR. My husband Paul asked the workers to remove your sweet basset hound from the back seat. Your dog was safely removed from your truck and held several feet back. People calmed your dog. More gentle souls. Then all the wonderful responders, fire and medical came on the scene. There were many people praying for you and for those preforming CPR.
My husband and I went to the local Catholic Church to offer prayers for you.
Jesus must of heard all our prayers.
God bless you Michael and we are so glad you are with us today.
Sincerely,
Paul & Diane Cantin
Concord, NH
Wow! It is wonderful that
Mary Dombrowski Bristol, CTWow! It is wonderful that people jumped in and saved this man’s life! It restores faith in mankind in an era of people not always being supportive to others!
Simply another reason why I
B A Hiller San Diego, CA {in college}, Bethany Bch., DE & Edgartown,MASimply another reason why I am proud to say I am from Edgartown, MVI, MA while I am a student in S. CA!
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