Man In Wheelchair Run Over By Access A Ride Van On Roosevelt Island's Main Street - NYPD ESU Free Him From Underneath Van - Expected To Recover

Image From Riverwalk Bar & Grill's Jonathan Hoo

There was a bad accident on Roosevelt Island earlier this morning. A reader sent me the following message:

U see this on Main Street. Guy in a wheelchair got run over

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Another reader, Olya, was there on the scene and had this eyewitness report:

I was sitting on the benches between Starbucks and Duane Reade with a friend - and as I looked towards the Queens side of the Island - I heard a man screaming and in a split second an Access Van that frequent the island had run over a man in a wheelchair. My body and mind were in complete shock - but as I ran towards the scene I called 911. The man was alive, thank goodness and screaming - "Please lift it, my back my back". In the meantime, 911 was dispatching an ambulance, but was completely unsure as to where Main Street on Roosevelt Island was located. After giving an address of 455 Main Street, the operator assured me that they were on the way. FDNY was first on the scene and moved quickly and efficiently to free the man from under the van. And, he was then whisked into the FDNY ambulance. I am wishing all the people involved in this incident well - it was truly traumatic.

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I inquired of Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Keith Guerra:

I understand that a man in a wheelchair got hit by a vehicle near 425 Main Street earlier this morning.

Can you provide any additional details as to what happened, the cause, type of vehicle, extent of any injuries etc.

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Mr. Guerra replied:

On Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at approximately 9:41 AM, a 61 year-old Male Goldwater Wheelchair Out-Patient was struck by an Access-A-Ride Mini-Bus. The accident occurred between 425 and 455 Main St. The victim and his wheelchair were wedged under the front wheel axle of the Mini-Bus. Members from PSD, FDNY and NYPD responded to the scene. The victim was extricated by the NYPD Emergency Service Unit and transported in an FDNY EMS Ambulance to the Cornell University Medical Center in Manhattan. He is awaiting surgery and is expected to recover from his injuries.

Images From Riverwalk Bar & Grill's Jonathan Hoo