Garden City Firefighter Recognized for Actions at Lynbrook Accident

As a token of appreciation for the "heroic" deeds of Garden City professional firefighter Michael Morgan at the scene of a serious accident in Lynbrook July 23, Mayor Don Brudie presented him with a proclamation at last week's village board meeting.

"As good fate would have it, he happened to be in the vicinity of Ocean Avenue and Sunrise Highway in Lynnbrook at the same time that an extrmely tragic accident occurred," Brudie said.

A Mack truck making a right turn onto Sunrise Highway struck a man in a motorized wheelchair who was using the crosswalk and its signal. The truck amputated the victim's leg upon impact as he remained strapped in his chair, according to one eyewitness. The victim was transported via a Nassau County Police Medevac helicopter to Nassau University Medical Center with multiple leg fractures and head trauma.

"Firefighter Morgan was the first qualified responder to the scene," Brudie said. "He made a medical assessment of the injured person. He instructed the Lynbrook Fire Department EMS service of the necessary critical steps that had to be taken and he further requested a helicopter airlift the hospital.

Firefighter Morgan never gave his name or sought recognition for his actions that day but was stopped by Lynbrook fire officers as he was leaving the scene.

"Garden City fire chief Charles Cavarra was then informed of Morgan's professional handling of the accident scene by the Lynbrook chief," Brudie said. "Firefighter Morgan, the village of Garden City and the Garden City Fire Department are proud of the professionalism displayed by you ... and the honor you have brought to this village and the Garden City Fire Department."