Police officer
uninjured
in accident
By CARL E. HARTDEGEN
Staff Writer
SOUTHWICK – A town police officer whose cruiser was struck on Depot Street has been released from hospital after an accident early this morning.
Lt. David Ricardi said this morning that Officer Michael Westcott was released after treatment at Baystate Medical Center after the crash he described as a “T-bone type accident” shortly after midnight.
He said that Westcott was extricated by use of hydraulic tools but never lost consciousness and suffered no obvious injuries.
Westcott complained of pain and was transported to the hospital, Ricardi said. He said that the department’s protocol is to routinely send officers involved in a vehicular crash to hospital to be evaluated.
The accident occurred shortly after midnight when Westcott was apparently leaving the nearby station to make his usual patrol.
Witnesses at the scene said that the cruiser had been southbound on Deport Street when it was struck on the passenger side by a Ford F-350 which was exiting Sheep Pasture Road and pushed off the roadway.
A Westfield Fire Department ambulance made a rendezvous with Southwick ambulance while it was en route to Springfield and Westfield paramedics boarded the Southwick ambulance to provide advance life support if necessary during the transit.
The cruiser was towed to the nearby police station. Ricardi said “I would say the cruiser was totaled.”
The investigation into the crash is incomplete.
Carl E. Hartdegen can be reached at [email protected]
