Three North Lindenhurst firefighters rescue unconscious man from fiery crash
Early morning accident near Sunrise Highway leaves 21-year-old man unconcious in car
by Carolyn James

North Lindenhurst firefighters from left, Chief Walter Singer, 1st Ass't. Chief Michael Clement and 2nd Ass't. Chief Thomas Moran.

The call for help went out at approximately 3:35 a.m., and Michael Clement, a 1st Assistant Chief with the North Lindenhurst Fire Department knew even before he pulled up to the scene of the auto accident that it was serious.

"People were jumping up and down in the street and screaming," said Clement, "and already there was smoke coming from the site of the crash."

The incident occurred Thursday, December 28th. A car on the ramp going from Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst to the eastbound lane of Sunrise Highway spun out of control, sped down a wooded incline there and turned over.

A resident at 578 Wellwood Avenue, Bob Becker, called 9-1-1 and set up a garden hose to help the firefighters. Clement, who lives nearby, arrived within moments of the accident and quickly advised oncoming emergency personnel that the vehicle was on fire.

After posting that radio notification, Clement ran down the incline to the car and saw a man slouched over on the floor boards of the front seat. He was bleeding and unconscious, and flames were spewing from the engine compartment. He knew time was of the essence.

Grabbing a water can, Clement broke a side window and beat back some of the flames. He worked to pull the victim from the floor and through the window as the fire moved forward over the vehicle.

Clement, 27, a New York City firefighter and ten year volunteer in North Lindenhurst, was quickly joined by two North Lindenhurst colleagues, 2nd Assistant Chief Thomas Moran and Chief of the Department Walter Singer. With Clement's water quickly running out, Moran brought another can and continued to try and extinguish the flames as all three men worked to extricate the victim, later identified as 21- year-old Dukerns Roney, listed with addresses in Cortland, New York and 440 Locust Street, Brentwood.

"By the time we arrived the fire had spread to the surrounding grass," said Singer. "We had to work quickly."

"We tried to revive the victim so that he could help us get him through the window, but he was unresponsive," said Clement. "While we generally hesitate to move someone in that condition, we really had no choice because of the fire and the fact that he was bleeding pretty badly."

The three men were finally able to get Dukerns from the car. He became defensive and had to be restrained by police. He was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital Center, where he was treated and released. He has been charged with driving while intoxicated.

As for the efforts of the three men Clement said it was nothing more than good training put into action. "It sort of happened by itself, without any of us thinking," he said. "I guess it sounds like a cliche, but it was pretty much what it was- just doing what we were trained to do." Firefighters at scene of crash. Inset, resident Bob Becker who made the initial call for help. Photos by Joe Turner

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