CHARLEMONT — A 71-year-old Charlemont man refused transportation to the hospital after the truck he was driving rolled over and collided with a utility pole along Route 2 Tuesday afternoon, according to State Trooper Eric Baumann.
The incident was reported just before 2 p.m. Police responded to the area of 1509 Route 2 and found a red 2019 Dodge Ram pickup truck alongside a snapped utility pole, Baumann recounted. The truck’s driver, Baumann said, was “OK” following the accident, receiving only minor on-scene medical treatment. Instead of being transported to Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield as offered by emergency responders, the driver’s daughter picked him up from the scene.
Massachusetts State Police, Charlemont Fire Department, Charlemont EMS and Colrain Ambulance responded, according to Baumann. In addition, a MassHealth nurse happened to be driving behind the truck when the accident happened.
“The woman who was following him said it rolled over four times,” Baumann recalled, adding that while this couldn’t be officially confirmed, “there definitely was a rollover.”
Baumann said the nurse hadn’t observed speeding or distracted driving prior to the westbound truck careening off the road and colliding with the utility pole. The nurse then helped the driver out of the vehicle before putting her training into practice.
“She put her gloves on,” Baumann continued. “He had a wound to the head that had to be cleaned up. … He was alert. He was conscious.”
While the incident remains under investigation by State Police, Baumann noted the truck’s driver has some health problems that could have contributed. The Charlemont man was also cited for a marked lanes violation.
Airbags were deployed and the truck received “heavy front-end damage,” Baumann reported. It was towed by Stagecoach Auto Repair.
National Grid crew leader Digger Neipp said shortly after 2 p.m. that power outages had not been reported as a result of the accident.
“It shouldn’t be too long for power disruptions,” Neipp noted. “We just need to kill (the power) for a little and make it safe.”
Baumann expressed relief considering the overall outcome of the accident.
“This couldn’t have gone better,” he said.
Reach Julian Mendoza
at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or jmendoza@recorder.com.