Those involved with the rescue of the four teenagers involved in a serious vehicle crash on July 29 on Mort Vining Road. They are; (from left) Sgt. Thomas Krutka, Brooke Emmelman, Officer Matthew Olson, Tasos Kyris who was in the vehicle, Skylar Emmelmann, Officer Nicholas Beauchemin, Sawyer Vassallo who was in the vehicle, Erika Emmelmann, Kyle Winn who was in the vehicle, and Sgt. Brad Fisk.
Reminder Publishing photo by Cliff Clark
SOUTHWICK — If not for the heroic effort by all those involved in the rescue of four teenagers who were inside a small SUV that crashed into tree on Mort Vining Road and burst into flames in late July, it’s not certain they would have survived.
On Oct. 6, those involved in the rescue, the professionals and civilians, were recognized during a ceremony in the Town Hall auditorium attended by town and state officials, residents, and three of the four boys who met their rescuers for the first time since that fateful night.
“For your selfless, life-saving actions after that a motor vehicle crash on July 29, 2025, and imminent risk of personal safety and with full knowledge of the risk involved, extricated three people who were trapped inside and overturned, severely damaged burning motor vehicle,” said Police Chief Rhett Bannish about the efforts of Officers Matthew Olson and Nicholas Beauchemin, and Sgt. Brad Fisk that night before each were presented with the department’s Medal of Honor. “Due to their courage, intervention and resolve not to give up under worsening and unpredictable conditions, the lives of these three individuals were undoubtedly saved.”
It was about 1:45 a.m., Tuesday, July 29, when the Westfield Regional Public Safety Communication Center received an automated 911 crash detection call from an unknown iPhone mapping in the area of Mort Vining Road, according to the sequence of events compiled by Department Sgt. Thomas Krutka, who was also recognized during the ceremony for the part he played in the rescue.
The dispatchers, Tausha Rocke and Thahn Nguynen, who were also recognized during the ceremony, made several callback attempts but no one picked up.
Moments later, the dispatch center began getting multiple 911 calls about the crash, including one from Erika Emmelmann, who lives only yards away, reporting the SUV had struck a tree, was on its roof, and on fire with people trapped inside.
Emmelman with the help of her daughters, Brooke and Skylar, who were also recognized for their bravery at the ceremony, and friends of those trapped in the SUV who were driving behind it when it left the road, pulled one of the boys to safety.
Emmelmann said her daughters, after gathering themselves, began filling pails of water for the boys.
“They were filling pails to dump water on you guys,” she said to the three teens, Sawyer Vassallo, Tasos Kyris, and Tyler Winn, who attended the ceremony. “Because when they pulled you from the car, you guys were on fire.”
The fourth teen, Aiden Desroches, sustained the worst injuries in the crash. According to a gofundme.com page set up to help with his long road to recovery, he had broken bones, dislocations, and severe burns. He was discharged Monday.
Less than a minute later, Fisk, Olson, and Beauchemin arrived, and grabbed the fire extinguishers in their cruisers and attacked the flames worked feverishly to pull the boys out, with Beauchemin’s uniform hat starting to melt and his beard singed from the flames.
Moments after the last boy was pulled out, the SUV burst into flames.
Emmelmann explained the scene when the officers arrived.
She said as soon as Fisk and Beauchemin arrived, she said had “never been happier in my life” to see them.
She said Fisk, who she knew after an incident years before when her late husband pulled a person from a burning vehicle in the exact same place, told her “this is what we’re going to do.”
And, before she knew it, Beauchemin had pulled the last boy from the SUV.
Southwick Fire/EMS arrived a short time later and began treating the victims as well as extinguishing the vehicle.
They also transported the boys, as did an ambulance from the Westfield Fire Department to the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield for treatment.
Fire Chief Richard Stefanowicz also gave certificates of commendation to 10 of the department’s first responders for their efforts. Those recognized were: Deputy Jessica Bishop, Capt. Brandon Johnson, Lt. Stephen Backman, Lt. Patrick Hope, Lt. Michael Moccio, firefighter/paramedic Josh Girard, firefighter/paramedic Ian Hurley, firefighter/EMT Anthony Cigal, firefighter/ EMT Julia Noel, and firefighter Michael Neilsen.
Stefanowicz also recognized Westfield Fire Department’s firefighter-paramedic Kyle Morrisey, who was the first EMT to respond to the scene.
In addition to Southwick Fire, additional ambulances were requested from the Westfield, Granby and Suffield Fire Departments, as well as an additional fire engine from Westfield, and police officers from the Granby.
The three members of the Select Board, Diane Gale, Douglas Moglin, and Russ Anderson also recognized the efforts of all those involved.
Anderson, the town’s former fire chief, also thanked the town’s taxpayers for their support of the fire and police departments over the last 15 years.
“If those things didn’t happen, this might not be the event we’re having,” he said.
State Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Nicholas Boldyga also gave Fisk, Olson, and Beauchemin proclamations from the State Senate and House of Representatives recognizing their heroic actions.
Two of the three boys also thanked everyone who helped that night.
“I’ll never be able to thank you enough for saving me … and my best friends,” said Sawyer Vassall, who also thanks God for getting them through that night and following days.
Kyris said, “I’m so glad God sent you guys.”
