FF/EMT Edward "Eddie" Wong Monticello FD

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Firefighter killed in truck crash

By Heather Yakin

Times Herald-Record

hyakin@th-record.com

Monticello - A longtime volunteer firefighter and EMT died yesterday in a crash on Route 17.

State police said Edward "Eddie" Wong, 46, of Monticello, was heading west on the highway when, for unknown reasons, his pickup truck veered into the median and slammed into the Bailey Road overpass abutment, just before Exit 105B.

Wong volunteered with the Monticello Fire Department for about 20 years, until medical conditions, including severe diabetes, kept him from the service. He was also a volunteer EMT with the former Monticello Volunteer Ambulance Corps and a past exalted ruler of the Monticello Elks.

When Wong crashed at 4:17 p.m., Monticello firefighters, Mobilemedic and sheriff's deputies were about two miles away, cleaning up after another crash. Firefighters and deputies jumped to respond to the call.

Sgt. Paul Pratti got there first and started CPR on Wong as firefighters arrived right behind.

Monticello fire Chief Glenn Somers said that at first, they were so intent on rescue that they didn't realize it was Wong. Firefighters Allen Kesten, Allen Schachnovsky and Keith Kurthy joined in the CPR effort.

Wong was taken by Mobilemedic to Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris, where he was pronounced dead. Firefighters stood solemnly on the roadside after the crash. Among them was Roy Rojas, a retired sheriff's detective and firefighter.

"Roy Rojas just talked to (Wong) an hour before the car accident," Somers said. "He was going to meet him to run Bingo at the Elks tonight."

[irishfire2491 24]

my prayers go out to the family and the local member of Monticello Fire Department and Ambulance Corp

MAY He now rest in peace