Accident brings no apparent serious injuries Wednesday evening

By Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong

Joined by law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical aides, civilians rushed to the assistance of a woman struck by a vehicle early Wednesday evening on Morris Avenue in front of the Butterfield Library.

A Philipstown Volunteer Ambulance Corps member and civilians reassure the victim shortly before her journey to a hospital. Photo by L.S. Armstrong
A Philipstown Volunteer Ambulance Corps member and civilians reassure the victim shortly before her journey to a hospital. Photo by L.S. Armstrong

According to an initial account at the site, she had been crossing the street mid-block when hit by a van going northbound. It remained stopped in its lane, as did a car, not involved, going southbound when the accident occurred around 6 p.m.

The unidentified woman lay in the street, conscious and talking but with a bloody cut or abrasion on her left elbow and with apparent difficulty or pain in moving her legs. A small gathering of good Samaritans, including at least one man who seemed to have emergency medical training, surrounded and ministered to her.

Law enforcement personnel – Cold Spring Officer Bill Bujarski (also village building inspector) and Tom Corless, an investigator with the Putnam County sheriff’s department (and mayor of Nelsonville) — quickly reached the scene, questioning bystanders and keeping order. Members of Cold Spring Fire Company No. 1, including Chief Matt Steltz, followed and a fire truck and cones temporarily closed the block to further traffic.

Good Samaritans, aiding the woman struck, and Cold Spring Police Officer Bill Bujarski were among those responding to the Morris Avenue accident. Photo by L.S. Armstrong
Good Samaritans, aiding the woman struck, and Cold Spring Police Officer Bill Bujarski were among those responding to the Morris Avenue accident. Photo by L.S. Armstrong

Not long afterward, an ambulance from the Philipstown Volunteer Ambulance Corps arrived. Its crew put the victim on a stretcher and took her for hospital treatment. A TransCare SUV also pulled up to the scene.

Bujarski told Philipstown.info that the victim did not seem to sustain any serious injuries, nor did the vehicle that hit her show any obvious sign of impact. “No damage; it was a bump,” he said of the collision.

 The van was allowed to continue on its journey after Bujarski spoke with the driver.

Behind The Story

Type: News

News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Armstrong was the founding news editor of The Current (then known as Philipstown.info) in 2010 and later a senior correspondent and contributing editor for the paper. She worked earlier in Washington as a White House correspondent and national affairs reporter and assistant news editor for daily international news services. Location: Cold Spring. Languages: English. Areas of expertise: Politics and government