Search for injured ATV driver has fire department use drone for the first time

EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. (NEWS10) -In the area of Hays Road, an ATV driver was heard screaming for help Saturday night. One of the responding agencies used its drone for the first time to help rescue efforts.

The East Greenbush Fire Department received the call around 8 p.m. With the assistance of Rensselaer City Police and its own ATV, the agencies were able to locate the motorist. Trying to help the man get out of the woods in the dark of night became a problem.

Rensselaer City Fire came to the rescue with a drone. Two months of training had prepared David Phillips for this exact moment. "As soon as I found out where they were packaging the patient, I just lit up the scene; trying to help out as much as I can."

Floodlights, among other features on the drone, allowed crews to safely navigate toward the injured driver. "The thermal imaging on the drone can pick up a gentleman in the woods just off his body heat," stated Captain Nicholas Liuzzi. The driver had broken his femur and a doctor from Albany Med was on the scene for pain management before being transported to the hospital.

"Our FAA restrictions are 400 feet in the air. If something ever came up and we had to go higher, we can get waivers," explained Phillips. "Right now, we work out of line of sight. In time, we can get a waiver to go work out of line of sight. We are in the process of doing that." Rensselaer City Fire is also willing to help other agencies in need of a drone.