North Adams Firefighter Honored
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| Mayor John Barrett III, center, pins a service medal on city firefighter Juan Bolte. |
She remembers being in pain and being taken to the hospital. She remembers the surgeries and long convalescence. But she especially remembers her "angel on the road" who climbed into her back seat right after the crash and who stayed with her until help arrived.
"I remember how compassionate he was as he maintained a continuous conversation with me in order to keep me calm and comfortable," she wrote Mayor John Barrett III. "... When the ambulance arrived, Juan did not relinquish his post, which made me feel so much safer."
For Juan Bolte's actions off-duty, the city firefighter and emergency medical technician was honored with a Meritorious Service Medal at Tuesday's City Council meeting. Family and colleagues filled the council chamber as the mayor pinned the medal on him. Commissioner of Public Safety E. John Morocco and Fire Director Stephen Meranti shook his hand.
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Bolte was headed along Route 9 in Cummington when he narrowly escaped a collision with an oncoming car — only to see it smash into the car directly behind him.
So he turned around to help. From Knox's back seat, he fashioned a brace using a coat he found there when Knox complained of neck pain. For an hour, he stayed with her as she faded in and out of consciousness, keeping her head supported, talking about children and acquaintances and telling her everything would be "OK."
Knox suffered a broken sternum and neck, which required life-threatening surgery at Berkshire Medical Center. She underwent further surgery to fix an artery, which could have meant stroke or paralysis. It would be two weeks before she would speak to Bolte again.
"Firefighter Bolte's quick actions saved a life and, most likely, prevented some level of paralysis," said Barrett.
In her letter, Knox praised Bolte's compassion and experience. "Juan stayed with me until I was safely placed and secured in the ambulance. I remember how hard it was for me to say goodbye to the man who had single-handedly saved my life."
After reflecting on the accident, Knox wanted the city to know what Bolte had done and wrote the mayor to express her appreciation.
"I want you to know that your community is made safer with Juan in it. He exemplifies the best public servant that our safety force can provide to the public. The world is a better place with Juan in it."
