By Scott Brinton
A serious collision on Sunrise Highway sent a 19-year-old driver to the Nassau County Medical Center with critical injuries and tied up rush-hour traffic for several hours on Thursday, Jan. 25, according to Bellmore Fire Department officials.
Al Hickey, the Bellmore department spokesman, said a pick-up truck, driven by the 19-year-old, crashed into the the rear of a transport truck that had stopped at the traffic light at Bedford Avenue and Sunrise. The Bellmore department released neither driver's name.
The force of the crash was so great that the pick-up slid under the larger truck up to its rear wheels, trapping its injured driver inside.
Bellmore volunteer firefighters and firemedics under the command of Second Assistant Chief Matt Bonner rushed to the crash and joined the Nasasu County Police Emergency Services Unit in a half-hour effort to remove the crash victim from his vehicle. Rescue workers employed heavy-duty airbags and two police tow trucks to lift the transport truck off the pick-up. Firefighters then pried open the pick-up with the Jaws of Life, freeing the driver inside.
Two NCMC surgeons flew in by helicopter to oversee the crash victim's medical care. Their Medivac helicopter, which landed on Surnise Highway, airlifted the victim to the medical center, where he was admitted in critical but stable condition. Officials offered no description of his injuries. The transport-truck driver escaped the crash unscathed.
The Merrick and North Bellmore Fire Departments provided assistance in the rescue effort. Bellmore fire police officers assisted county authorities in diverting traffic away from the crash site and securing a landing strip for the Medivac helicopter on Sunrise Highway.
The Nassau County Police Department is investigating the collision.
