Longtime Bennington Rescue Squad member Dale R. Long responded to emergency calls and saved numerous lives over 25 years. On Monday, his colleagues were called upon to save him, but the impact of the ambulance Long was driving and a large pine tree on West Road proved too great.

Dale Long

Traveling at regular speed

The ambulance was heading to the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center with its emergency lights on, but was traveling at regular speed, according to Bennington Police Lt. Paul Doucette. "Speed was not a factor in this," he said.

Three others, including a patient being transported in the ambulance when the crash occurred, were rushed to area hospitals. Mitchell Vincelette, 42, a paramedic, was treated and released at SVMC. A female training to be a paramedic is receiving continued treatment for non-life threatening injuries at the Bennington hospital, according to Doucette.

The 60-year-old female patient, who has not been identified by police, was being transported from the Hoosick Falls Health Center in Hoosick Falls, N.Y. She was taken a short distance by ambulance to Route 279 where she was transferred to a helicopter and brought to Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center, with potentially life-threatening injuries that were not specified, according to Doucette.

The highway was closed for several hours after the crash.

Long, 48, was employed by SVMC as an emergency room clerk, according to interim CEO Dr. Mark Novotny. He said Long was named the Bennington Rescue Squad's EMT of the year in 2008, and also received the Star of Life award last year from the state of Vermont, which is awarded to an EMT who shows the greatest commitment to the job.

Rescue personnel were alerted to the crash by Vincelette, who sent a chilling radio transmission around 3:30 p.m. pleading for immediate police, fire and rescue squad members to respond. Vincelette also sought a helicopter, but rescue personnel had trouble initially securing one because of poor weather conditions.

Doucette said the crash occurred when the ambulance, which was heading east on West Road, veered right, causing the front passenger side of the ambulance to strike the driver's side front quarter panel of a 2008 Toyota pickup truck driven by William Hill, Doucette said. Hill was at a complete stop at the intersection of West and Pleasant Valley Roads.

The impact caused the pickup to spin clockwise. Meanwhile, the ambulance continued moving forward off the travel portion of West Road and into a large pine tree, causing "extensive intrusion" to the driver's seat, according to Doucette.

Mark Tronson, who lives across the street from where the crash occurred, said he heard the crash and dialed 911.

"It sounded like an explosion of glass and metal. Right then I knew it was a car accident," Tronson said.

Police do not yet know why the ambulance veered off the road and the crash remains under investigation, Doucette said. Evidence from the scene and eyewitness accounts indicate no sudden movements by the ambulance, he said.

"We've got to try to determine what happened. At this point in the investigation the paramedic and the trainee are not able to offer us any information. They just know that there was an impact," Doucette said. "The vehicle just kind of veered off to the side."

Members of the Bennington Rural Fire Department were able to extricate Long from the front of the ambulance, which was severely compacted. Rescue personnel had to fight through a sustained heavy rain with thunder and lighting as they worked to save their colleagues and the patient they were caring for.

"It's heart-wrenching. This crash is truly tragic for the Long family, for members of the Bennington Rescue Squad. I would go as far as saying it affects all of the emergency services personnel in the area," Doucette said. "You just never know, and it's devastating when it's one of your own, but you have to keep your composure and you have to keep driving forward. That's what my hope is for all of the people that are involved."

Novotny said he had known Long for about 25 years and had worked with him on the Manchester Rescue Squad. "Dale is one of those people who is always ready to help. Always positive and really good at what he does," Novotny said.

Long was "just a wonderful man," according to Novotny, who said he met with ER staff Monday evening to see how they wanted to honor Long's life. Novotny said the hospital will hold a memorial service some time this week.

In an interview with the Banner in November 2008, Long said he found his passion when he became an EMT about 25 years ago.

"I started working here because it just felt like something was missing in my life," Long told the Banner. "I took my first class, went out on my first call, and a light bulb went off. I found what I was looking for, and I've been doing it ever since."

Doucette said police will continue to investigate the crash to help answer questions family, friends and the community have about why it occurred.

"A lot of times, when investigations are complete and you can share information, all of the information with people, it kind of puts them at ease. It puts people's minds at ease. That's what we're hoping for," Doucette said. "We know how the crash itself occurred, but now we need to know why it happened. What caused him to veer to the right?"

The Bennington Rescue Squad held a mandatory meeting Monday evening for all members.