Benefit breakfast, dance to help with expenses
The Houlton State Agricultural Fair Firemen’s Demolition Derby didn’t turn out the way Josh Rockwell of Island Falls was expecting.
In the first round of action, Rockwell’s car caught on fire when the gas tank exploded. He was able to escape the flames by crawling through his open back windshield. But, he suffered severe burns to his arms and face.
Rockwell, a volunteer firefighter and EMT in Island Falls, was an inpatient at Houlton Regional Hospital, and then last Wednesday he was transported by the Island Falls ambulance to the Maine Medical Center in Portland with third degree burns to his right hand and wrist and second degree burns to his right arm and face, along with upper airway burns.
He underwent surgery last Thursday for his injuries. His sister, Leanne White said, “Josh had one skin graft and is looking to have one or two more. We don’t know for sure when he will be discharged from the hospital.”
The derby car Rockwell was driving was inspected by Fair officials before the event for safety. The accident was no fault of the committee or the driver’s placement of the gas tank.
Unfortunately, Rockwell had no insurance, as he was part of the Louisiana-Pacific layoff. However, the community is rallying. The Island Falls Free-Wheeler ATV Club will hold a benefit breakfast from 5:30-10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 25 at the Island Falls Fish and Game Club. That night, a benefit dance will be held at the Island Falls Municipal Building from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Cost of both benefits will be $5 per person.
Rockwell is the son of Malcolm and Sandra Rockwell.
