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Wind storm becomes a killer
Tree section crushes motorcyclist
By ARN ALBERTINI, Recorder Staff
DEERFIELD — A Springfield motorcyclist died after Sunday’s high winds blew a tree on top of him as he was on Mill Village Road.
Around 11 a.m., Robert F. Sheehan Jr., 58, of Kittrell Street in Springfield was riding north on Mill Village Road. As he passed over a small stream, the heavy winds ripped off a section of a three-foot wide willow tree and dropped it on top of him.
Rescue workers tried to revive Sheehan at the scene. He was taken via Baystate Health Ambulance to Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield where he was pronounced dead at 11:42 a.m., according to a hospital spokesman.
Sheehan was riding with two other motorcyclists.
“He was the last one in line,” said Zeke Desrosiers of Chicopee, who was leading the ride. “We were just driving through this area here and taking it slow because of the wind.”
Steve Kowak of Winsted, Conn., who was in the middle of the pack, said he heard a loud crash. “I turned around and I saw the tree down and I didn’t see (Sheehan’s) headlight.”
He parked his bike and ran over to the tree and yelled his friend’s name. “There was no response,” Kowak said.
Other drivers were already calling 911.
Kowak and Desrosiers watched as rescue workers tried to save Sheehan. Once the ambulance took Sheehan away, firefighters cut up the tree to reveal the crushed motorcycle, tangled among the branches. A picture of several small children hung between the cycle’s handlebars.
“We usually have a bigger group with us, but today it was just us three,” said Desrosiers.
Deerfield Police, Deerfield Fire Department and Deerfield Ambulance also responded to the accident. Police are still investigating the accident.
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I was going to start a thread. Sorry for the guys kin.
