Worker Injured Taking Down Decorations at Westwood Mall
A 27-year-old man was brought to a hospital by medevac helicopter after a coworker accidentally hit him with a bucket crane, according to police.
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A man taking down Christmas decorations at the Westwood Plaza was rushed to a hospital by helicopter after a coworker accidentally hit him with a bucket crane Thursday afternoon, according to Westwood Police Capt. Frank Durante.
Police received a call about the accident at about 3:18 p.m., Durante said. When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered that a worker in a bucket crane had not seen the victim, a 27-year-old Pennsylvania resident, and accidentally lowered the bucket into the man's head. The two men were taking down Christmas decorations at the strip mall at the time of the accident.
The victim was apparently not wearing a hard hat, according to Durante. Police reported the incident to the Occupational Hazard and Safety Administration, he said.
Paramedics found the victim had suffered a serious injury to his neck, though he was alert and conscious.
EMTs brought the man to HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley, where a medevac helicopter met them and flew the man to the main Hackensack University Medical Center.
Updates about the man's condition were not immediately available.
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In This article
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Kmart
700 Broadway, Westwood, NJ -
Hackensack University Medical Center North At Pascack Valley
250 Old Hook Rd, Westwood, NJ
Rick
12:13 am on Saturday, January 12, 2013
Waaaay overdone...he could have been taken by ground in less time.
amanda
9:38 am on Monday, January 14, 2013
You don't know the situation so don't share your comment.
Rick
2:22 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
And you know this because....?
amanda
5:03 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
Because I know him that's why. I don't just comment on things I don't know, like some people.
Rick
8:44 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
My point is the cost of the operation and the profit that HUMC makes on this which includes the incredible cost of the unneeded helecopter. I'm not saying your friend was denied needed care, which what HUMC provides is exceptional, but the transport first to HUMC North then the helicopter to Hackensack. The determination to go first to a truama center directly and bypass HUMC North should have been made by the Paramedics on the scene. I hope your friend is doing well.
amanda
11:25 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
That was the determination that the paramedics made. They bypassed HUMC north because, in their words, that place sucks and they could not help him. They went to the trauma center because they thought he broke his neck. I applaud the paramedics for making the decision they made. If the injuries were as bad as they could have been their decision to use the 4 minute helicopter ride instead of the 45 minute ambulance ride could have made all the difference.