Willey, Reed
honored for life-saving efforts
Two Aroostook County men were formally recognized for saving the life of another County man last fall, during the annual Maine State Police Awards Ceremony held June 11 at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro.
Photo courtesy Maine State Police
COUNTY MEN HONORED – Taylor Willey, of Presque Isle, and Jack Reed, of Wade, were honored at the Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro on June 11 for their efforts in saving the life of another man. The three were part of a crew working at a County Farms potato house on the Castle Hill Road when the victim’s clothes became entangled in machinery. Pictured from left are: Maine State Police Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Bessette, Taylor Willey, Jack Reed and Colonel Robert Williams, of the MSP.
On Oct. 10, 2012, Troop F troopers were called to a County Farms potato house located on the Castle Hill Road in Mapleton. Taylor Willey, age 17, from Presque Isle, had called 9-1-1 and reported a 22-year-old male farm worker had become entangled in a piece of potato handling equipment and was unresponsive. Willey indicated the victim had been lifted off the ground and was being strangled by his clothing being caught in the machinery.
As troopers and ambulance personnel responded to the scene, another worker, Jack Reed, age 72, from Wade, used his knife to cut the victim free from the equipment, lowered the man to the ground and began CPR.
To ensure first responders were able to quickly locate the scene, Willey went out to the side of the Castle Hill Road and flagged down the ambulance and troopers as they arrived. Reed continued CPR until he was relieved by ambulance personnel.
The victim was taken to The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle and later transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. The victim had suffered a crushed trachea and collapsed lungs, but due to the efforts of Reed and Willey, the man eventually made a full recovery.
For their efforts in saving the victim from certain death, Reed and Willey were awarded the Maine State Police Special Award of Commendation.
