Late Tuesday afternoon, December 8, a UPS truck collided with a freight train at the intersection of Route 12A and Oxbow Road sending the seriously injured driver to Fletcher Allen in Burlington.

The story that wasn't mentioned, however, is how Roxbury residents rose to the occasion and handled the situation before the arrival of outside authorities.

Neighbors Josh and Dorothy Potwin and Tony Bean were first on the scene.

"I was outside when I heard a horrendous bang, like a cannon. I saw something on the front of the train. I ran to the house and told my wife to call 911," recounts Josh Potwin.

By that time, his wife Dorothy was already on the phone, after seeing the accident from her window.

Josh and Tony, who was also outside his house, ran across 12A and assessed the situation. They couldn't see the driver so they pulled open the door and saw him slumped out of the seat. He was bleeding profusely and the men knew they had to stop the bleeding for the driver to survive. Dorothy ran over with towels and held them to the man's wounds in attempt to slow the bleeding.

In the meantime, the men tore off the door of the truck, thinking ahead to the arrival of the EMTs and how they would need to move the victim.

Around this time, Tim Martin, Roxbury's Fire Chief, arrived and witnessed the results of quick thinking on the part of the three people.

"They did an awesome job. I'm not so sure he would've made it if they hadn't helped," he observed.

Josh noted that because of the urgency of the situation, "it seemed like an eternity 'til the EMTs got there, but they did."

Northfield Ambulance was aided by Fire Chief Martin and fellow Roxbury fire fighter Jaime Hedding. The Roxbury Fire Department was also responsible for setting up the landing zone at the Teela-wooket soccer field for the victim to be airlifted by DHART to Fletcher Allen.

In addition, the fire fighters directed traffic while the State Police did their investigation.

Community members that helped were obviously moved by the accident and are worried about the victim’s condition.

“He has two children,” Tony Bean said. “I hope he’s OK. I asked the UPS representative if they were going to take care of his family and he said ‘Yes.’”

And while it was a traumatic experience for everyone involved, another feeling remained among those who helped.

Josh Potwin was quick to recognize the efforts of others in the community. "People got blankets. People driving by stopped and helped out. The Fire Department really got things under control… the whole community got involved," Josh said, after recounting the ordeal.

Tony agreed. “This is a great community.” Tim Martin had a similar reaction. "You get a good feeling that they all came together and worked together in such a small town. It makes you feel good."