Man flips car on Route 8

0
1363
Firefighters from Beacon Hose Co. No. 1 and state police work at the scene of an accident on Route 8 in Beacon Falls Friday. –CONTRIBUTED
Firefighters from Beacon Hose Co. No. 1 and state police work at the scene of an accident on Route 8 in Beacon Falls Friday. –CONTRIBUTED

BEACON FALLS — A Wolcott man avoided serious injury after driving through a fence and a wooded area before crashing on Route 8 Oct. 23.

According to a police report, Matthew Michaud, 18, of Wolcott, was driving a 2013 Subaru Impreza north on Main Street, which is a dead end, when he lost control of the car, crossed the grass median into the southbound lane, jumped the sidewalk, drove through a chain-link fence and a heavily wooded area before the car flipped onto its roof on Route 8 North.

Beacon Hose Co. No. 1 Fire Chief Jim Trzaski said firefighters responded to the scene shortly after midnight. Michaud was the lone person in the car, Trzaski said. He said Michaud was trapped in the car and suspended by the seatbelt. Trzaski said firefighters secured the man in the car and extricated him within 4 minutes from receiving the call.

Trzaski said the man suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Waterbury Hospital for treatment.

“I think the guys did a tremendous job,” he said.

Route 8 North was closed for about a half-hour while crews worked on the scene.

Michaud avoided more serious injury thanks in part to the actions of a volunteer firefighter from New York.

Trzaski said the engine compartment of the car caught fire after the accident. James Herzog, a truck driver for Ruan Transportation and volunteer firefighter from Central Bridge, New York, was driving on the highway at the time of accident and came upon the scene, he said. Herzog put out the fire with a fire extinguisher, Trzaski said.

The fire was out by the time Beacon Hose firefighters arrived on the scene, Trzaski said.

The accident remains under investigation.