The Jaws of Life Save Man from Machine

A 22-year-old Brewster man will be laid up for some time following a freak accident at the Mt. Maya Car Wash in Southeast.

State Police and EMS personnel were summoned to the popular auto bath on Route 22 late Friday afternoon for a report of a man badly injured.

Brewster State Police Sgt. Ted Daly said patrols arriving on the scene found an employee of the car wash in shock and extreme pain with his foot caught in a conveyer belt.

An investigation disclosed that Kenneth Bowen was inside the entrance of the car wash spraying vehicles prior to their entering the washing section when the shoe laces on his work boot became entangled in the conveyer belt. The sergeant said Bowen's foot became wedged in the machinery and was pulled along the metal for a distance before co-workers heard his screams and turned off the mechanical device.

Brewster Fire Department personnel rushed to the scene along with the Putnam Lake FD Rescue Squad and used the Jaws of Life to extricate the victim from the belt in a painstakingly slow process. A paramedic from the TransCare Ambulance Company requested a medivac helicopter from the Westchester Medical Center since the foot was broken in numerous places and had been severely mangled. However, the chopper was on a previous call and medical personnel decided not to wait but to transport the victim to Danbury Hospital by ambulance.

Authorities said Bowen underwent emergency surgery and was admitted to the hospital.