ATV Accident In The Deep Woods Of Berlin

by David Flint
An ATV accident on the Taconic Ridge Friday evening, August 20, brought out multiple agencies to the rescue. According to Berlin Fire Chief William Osterhout, the accident occurred close to the Massachusetts border two or three miles up in the woods beyond the Mattison Hollow trail head in Cherry Plain that leads up to the Taconic Ridge State Forest.
Osterhout said a call came in between 6 and 7 pm. The Berlin Fire

On August 20 Emergency Response personnel converged on Mattison Hollow Road which abuts the entry to the State Forest to rescue an injured ATV driver who was about 2-3 miles back into the woods at or near the Massachusetts line. Photo by Bob Rubin.

Department and Rescue Squad responded, and they were assisted by ATV rescue teams from Grafton and from Eagle Mills. State Police from Sand Lake were also on the scene, as were County Fire Coordinator Ivan Wager, Deputy Coordinator Greg Morin and Battalion 5 Coordinator Cyril Grant.

The rescued ATV driver being placed in the Berlin Rescue Squad ambulance en route to a Medivac pick up at the High School in Cherry Plain. Photo by Bob Rubin.

The Stephentown Fire Department set up a helicopter landing zone at the Berlin High School down on Route 22. Osterhout said it took about two hours to bring the injured rider out, and he was then helicoptered to Albany Medical Center. Osterhout believed the rider was from New Lebanon. He had no information about the extent of his injuries.