AMHERST - A veteran Amherst firefighter is in hospital in Halifax with serious injuries following a motorcycle crash during Saturday's Biking 4 Bone Marrow event.
Gregg LeBlanc, an officer with the Amherst Fire Department's rescue unit, is in the ICU at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax after undergoing surgery Sunday.
LeBlanc broke his arm and his pelvis as well as two vertebrae while a third vertebra is pinching on his spinal column. It's unknown if there's any paralysis.
RCMP spokesperson Const. Paul Calder said LeBlanc was injured just after 3 p.m., when he lost control of his motorcycle while passing over a one-lane bailey bridge in Sand River.
"We don't know for sure, but it's believed his tire went into a gap in the bridge's wooden deck, causing him to lose control," said Calder. "We're not sure if he was thrown into the steel side of the bridge, or if the bike struck it."
Calder said LeBlanc was helped by an ER physician and his wife, who is a nurse. They arrived on the scene shortly after the crash.
Amherst fire chief Bill Crossman said Monday that the department's chaplain, Rev. Bob Mack, has been in touch with the family and that the members' thoughts and prayers are with LeBlanc and his family.
"He's definitely going to be missed and we're looking forward to his return, whenever that is," said Crossman, who was devastated when he learned of the crash on Saturday night. "Any time one of your members is seriously injured, it's devastating. I just couldn't believe it when I heard the news."
dcole@amherstdaily.com
Firefighter in hospital after motorcycle crash
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Published on
July 7, 2009
- Published on January 3, 2010
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Darrell Cole
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Comments
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- firefighter rescue 5
- - January 18, 2010 at 12:17:58
This bridge was supose to be temporary when the original bridge burnt in the 80's. The floor is a on going problem at that bridge, shulie bridge,apple river bridge and purty much every other bailey with a wooden floor, if they want to make these bridges permanent then do just that, concrete or asphalt them instead of going back repeatedly to repair floor boards, it was just a matter of time before someone got hurt. Take care Gregg, us guys are think of you!
