Amtrak detective, trooper save trapped couple from burning RV
According to a source at the scene, Amtrak detective Scott DiBisceglio passing by the area, near exit 20, and a trooper from Troop T were first on the scene and found the couple trapped inside the burning motorhome with the door too close to the guardrail to open.
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An on-duty Amtrak detective and New York State trooper helped rescue a trapped couple and their pets from a burning motorhome in the Town of Catskill on I-87.
According to a source at the scene, Amtrak detective Scott DiBisceglio was driving southbound on Thursday when he stumbled on the motorhome in flames. State Police say a trooper from Troop T arrived on the scene, near exit 20, around 3 p.m. and found the couple and their pets trapped inside the burning motorhome with the door too close to the guardrail to open.
State police say the trooper tried to break the windshield first with his baton, but the glass was too thick, and eventually broke open the door. The couple, Raymond Hanas, 82, and Patricia Grabley, 81, both from Lake George, was carried out by law enforcement officers to safety, according to police.
“The quick actions undoubtedly saved the lives of this family, preventing a tragic ending, giving them a chance to celebrate the upcoming New Year,” state police said in a statement.
The Catskill Fire Company responded to the scene near mile marker 107.6 to put out the fire and shared photos of the incident on their Facebook page.
Police say the motorhome, a 2005 Allegro, was towing a 2018 Jeep and experienced a mechanical failure which caused the fire and 20-foot flames.
Hanas suffered a laceration to his hand from broken glass, according to a source at the scene. Both occupants suffered smoke inhalation, according to police. Authorities say they were treated at the scene and denied further medical care.
