Recent tragedies remind us: Our first responders are critical to this community

A screech and several bangs. That’s what our reporter heard late Wednesday afternoon come from the bridge on County Route 105 over the Peconic River.

It looked as bad as it sounded.

By the time our reporter was on the scene 10 minutes after the crash, dozens of first responders — in both their personal and official vehicles — were there to help save lives, with more arriving every minute. It was a tremendous display of dedication by the local volunteer emergency responders and police officers.

While we were taking pictures, first responders were working to get people out of an overturned vehicle. Others were helping people who were wounded in the multi-vehicle crash. (Seven vehicles in total were involved in the crash, police said.) Others diverted traffic and prepared to tend to the people trapped in the flipped vehicle. And in the midst of all this, Riverhead firefighters secured a landing zone for the Suffolk County Police helicopter that was racing to the scene to transport a seriously injured victim to Stony Brook University Hospital.

In addition to Riverhead Police officers, five first responder groups helped assess and treat the injured at the scene, according to police: Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Flanders Northampton Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Manorville Community Ambulance, Riverhead Fire Department, including its heavy rescue unit, and a Stony Brook University Hospital first responder unit. The New York State Police Forensic Investigation Unit helped Riverhead Police investigate the accident. 

And behind the scenes, working with unparalleled professionalism under the worst of circumstances —as always — were the Riverhead Police Department public safety dispatchers, keeping track of the location of all of the first responders on their way to the scene and at the scene, and everything that was happening as the tragedy unfolded.

One person died in the crash, but it could have been more had our first responders not been prepared to do what they do best: save lives.

Incidents like Wednesday’s major car crash, as well as the rescue of three people inside a burning Riverhead home by Riverhead Police officers on Monday, remind us of how fortunate we are to have a community of caring and dedicated first responders: the public servants who are members of the police, EMS and fire services.

Whether they are paid to be the first ones on the scene, or volunteers who sacrifice their personal time to answer calls, all of them have chosen to dedicate part of their lives to the service of others, even putting themselves in harm’s way.   

It’s easy to take what first responders do for granted. It’s a difficult job, physically and emotionally. Many experience trauma from events they respond to, witnessing death and tragedy. It undoubtedly takes a toll.

These people aren’t amateurs either. First responders, paid or volunteer, undergo countless hours of training to be able to respond to any kind of situation. That training pays off every day.

So, thank you, yet again, to the men and women who are always ready and willing to rush into danger and deal with tragedy to help neighbors and strangers alike. Thank you for giving your time so generously and selflessly to our community and for stepping up and giving your all every day to keep us all safe.