Lynbrook Volunteer Fire Department, Lynbrook Nassau County, New York

Lynbrook FD Responds to Auto Accident Involving ERFD Chief

Story and Photos by Ex-Captain Steve Grogan For additional photos visit Bill Bennett's Web site

On Sunday, January 20, 2007, at about 3:20 PM, the Lynbrook Fire Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Occhipinti, responded to an auto accident with multiple aided at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Merrick Road. The call came in from the First Deputy Chief of the East Rockaway Fire Department who was involved in the accident and trapped behind the wheel of his car and injured. Lynbrook’s Medical Company ambulance 425, the department’s Extrication Team 426-1, and Vulcan Engine 422, responded to the scene as did the East Rockaway Fire Department with their department ambulance and their other chiefs. Rockville Centre FD also sent their ambulance to the scene, as did Nassau County Police EMS.

Lynbrook’s fire medics, assisted by ERFD medics, and Nassau County Police EMS medics, attended to the injured which totaled six persons in three vehicles. Lynbrook firefighters from the Extrication Team cut the driver’s door from the chief’s car so that the Deputy Chief could be safely removed from his vehicle on a stretcher. He was transported by Lynbrook’s ambulance to Nassau University Medical Center. The chief’s passenger was also removed on a stretcher and taken to South Nassau Hospital by East Rockaway’s ambulance. The other four injured were treated at the scene by the medics but refused transportation to the hospital. The Nassau County ESU was also at the scene and stood-by.

The cause of the accident, according to an eyewitness who remained at the scene and spoke to the police, was caused allegedly by one of the vehicles running a red light and smashing into the chief’s car when he entered the intersection. The chief was not responding to a fire call at the time.