A local man was arraigned Monday after a crash into a home on Saturday morning in Fall River left injuries.
Just before 8:00 a.m. a call came into dispatch for a truck into a home at 646 Brayton Avenue.
According to Fall River Police Lieutenant Matthew Mendes, an occupant of the residence was temporarily trapped and subsequently extricated by the Fire Department. The individual sustained what appear to be non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Rhode Island Hospital.
The operator of the vehicle, 49-year-old Jeffrey Vizthum, was taken into custody at the scene.
The Fall River Firefighter Union stated that crews conducted an extended extrication operation, successfully freeing an occupant trapped beneath the vehicle.
The collision caused extensive structural damage, displacing all building occupants. Due to damage to the exterior electrical service, power was remotely disconnected before National Grid arrived to secure the service.
Fall River EMS stated that Squad 11, staffed by shift commander Lieutenant Blackburn, heard the transmission and was around the corner and arrived on scene within seconds of the dispatch. On scene, Lt Blackburn established EMS command, requested for additional units and rendered immediate aid to a patient that was trapped under the car. Lt Blackburn was on scene as the only medical or fire personnel for multiple minutes before any other units arrived. Fall River EMS was on scene with Fall River Fire and Fall River police.
On scene, first responders found a single occupant in the vehicle that was entrapped as well as one person trapped under the vehicle. Fire department personnel responded and performed extricating measures for approximately 30-40 minutes until the patient was free from under the vehicle. In the middle of the operation, responders had live wires with active sparks coming from the house and vehicle. 1 unit transported 1 patient to Rhode Island Hospital Trauma Center with a driver so both paramedics were able to be in the back of the ambulance during transport. 2 other patients were transported to local hospitals.
Vizthum was arraigned Monday on charges of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Leaving the Scene of Personal Injury, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and Marked Lanes Violation.
He pled not guilty and was held without bail on dangerousness with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for November 24th.
