Photo by Jack Healy

More than 50 Massapequa Fire Department volunteers rushed to the scene of a serious two-car collision shortly before 7 p.m., July 4. Ten people, including four children, were injured and taken to hospitals for treatment.

The accident occurred on Broadway at Toronto Avenue. Police said that Freddy Torres, who was operating a 2004 Ford pickup truck, collided with a Plymouth minivan driven by Donald Mueller of New Hampshire Avenue, Massapequa. Torres’ vehicle contained two children while Mueller’s contained two children and five other adults.

"When we arrived some passersby had already begun to give assistance to the passengers and drivers," said Tom Fitzsimmons, 2nd Assistant Chief with the Massapequa Fire Department. "We knew that there were children involved, but they appeared to be very quiet and we managed, with the use of the hurst tool to open the minivan and get out the occupants from that vehicle."

Police said that Torres’ pickup struck Mueller’s mini van from behind when Mueller stopped to make a left turn on Broadway.

Massapequa was assisted by the Nassau County Police Department, North Massapequa, Seaford, Amityville and Wantagh fire departments, which worked at the scene and provided back up in the district. Massapequa Fire Chief Thomas Kennelly was in charge at the scene.

Fitzsimmons said that there were two individuals who sustained what appeared to be serious injuries.

Traffic was tied up for several hours.

"We were fortunate that it was a holiday and many of the volunteers were home," he said.

Police and firefighters were also called out to several other accidents that weekend, and a blackout struck several areas in Massapequa and West Amityville. Assistance was also provided to employees of the Green point Savings Bank on Sunrise Highway after several calls were made reporting that several employees there began to feel dizzy, nauseous and ill.

"We suspect that it may have been caused by the generator that was operating there but we can’t be sure," said Fitzsimmons.