Thompson, CT — A 57-year-old man was airlifted Saturday night after firefighters spent nearly an hour cutting him from his vehicle.

At approximately 8:41 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, the Thompson Fire Engine Company, East Thompson Volunteer Fire Department, Community Fire Company, Putnam EMS, and a Quinebaug Valley paramedic were dispatched to the area of 44 Gawron Road for reports of a pickup truck versus a tree with the occupant entrapped.

Crews arrived to find the sole occupant pinned in the driver’s seat, with the front of the vehicle heavily damaged. A LIFESTAR helicopter was requested to a designated landing zone at Marianapolis Preparatory School.

While one crew provided medical care to the victim, another worked to free him from the vehicle. Crews attempted several methods of extrication utilizing hydraulic and battery-powered cutters, spreaders (commonly referred to as the “Jaws of Life”), and rams. To create sufficient space for extrication, a winch was used to pull the truck away from the tree, allowing crews to use rams to push the collapsed dashboard away from the victim.

During extrication, a third crew secured the landing zone for the helicopter and transported the flight crew to the scene so patient care could begin while extrication was still in progress. The victim was ultimately freed and flown to Rhode Island Hospital with serious injuries.

According to the Connecticut State Police, a 2010 GMC Sierra operated by a 57-year-old man, with a Thompson post office box listed as his residence, was traveling westbound on Gawron Road when it left the roadway and struck a tree.

The crash remains under investigation by Connecticut State Police Troop D.

Quiet Corner Alerts maintains a policy of not revealing the names of victims or suspects unless they are actively being sought by law enforcement or pose a perceived threat to the public.

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“Every time the tones drop, it’s not a symbol responding — it’s someone’s neighbor, parent, or friend getting on that truck.”