(Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Curtis Walsh)

(Photo above submitted by Patterson Township Secretary/Treasurer Christin L. Milnes)

On April 7th Patterson Township Police and Volunteer Fire Department, Patterson Heights Volunteer Fire Department, and Chippewa Township Police and Volunteer Fire Department responded to a single vehicle motorcycle accident on Darlington Road.  They found a male individual who was bleeding heavily from leg and head injuries while lying in the street.  Patterson Township VFD Quad 903 was the first to arrive on scene. Patterson Township Assistant Police Chief Nicholas Bathgate was also first on scene and managed operations.  Patterson Heights and Patterson Township Volunteer Fire Departments set up a landing zone for stat medivac while Beaver Falls and Chippewa Township Police conducted traffic.  Patterson Township QRS member and EMT Melissa Graeser, along with Chippewa Township Police Officers Tom Paranuik and Daniel Frederick performed patient care while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. They applied multiple tourniquets to control the bleeding.  CPR was performed by EMT Graeser and Officer Paranuik before assisting the ambulance crew with prepping for transport to the landing zone.  Stat Medivac transported the individual to a Pittsburgh Hospital.  The Patterson Township Board of Commissioners expressed their appreciation tonight for the heroic actions of these Departments and individuals by presenting them with a Proclamation of Appreciation.  Due to the efforts made by said individuals and their departments, they gave the victim a fighting chance.  Even  though the individual did not survive, these efforts enabled the victim to be an organ donor and save lives for others.