Kingston Mass-Kingston teenager was flown to a Boston hospital Saturday after an SUV rolled backward and pinned him underneath, prompting a large emergency response and a MedFlight landing at Silver Lake Regional High School.
According to officials and witness accounts, the incident happened late Saturday morning when 18-year-old John Joyce was trying to move a stalled SUV out of the roadway near his home. Joyce later explained that the vehicle had been giving him trouble and stopped running, so he shifted it into neutral and attempted to push it himself.
That’s when things suddenly went wrong.
The SUV reportedly began rolling backward down an incline, knocking Joyce to the ground and trapping him underneath the vehicle. Neighbors and nearby residents rushed to help while Kingston Police and Kingston Fire crews responded to the scene.
Firefighters used specialized rescue airbags and heavy equipment to carefully lift the SUV and free Joyce from underneath. Officials said he suffered injuries to his lower body but remained conscious throughout the rescue effort.
Because of the seriousness of the injuries, MedFlight was called to the scene. The helicopter landed at Silver Lake Regional High School, temporarily interrupting a lacrosse game taking place nearby. Witnesses said players, coaches, and spectators quickly cleared the field so emergency crews could safely bring the helicopter in.
Joyce was then airlifted to a Boston trauma center for treatment. Authorities later said he was in stable condition.
The frightening incident quickly drew attention across the South Shore, with many residents praising the fast actions of first responders and neighbors who assisted before emergency crews arrived.
Officials have not indicated that foul play was involved, and the incident appears to have been a tragic accident connected to the disabled vehicle rolling unexpectedly.
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