Cape Man Arrested for Hit and Run of Onset Firefighter
UPDATE: The injured firefighter has been identified by the Onset Fire Facebook page as Marc Granato.
WAREHAM — During the storm on the night of Friday, March 2, an on-duty Onset Fire Department firefighter was struck by a vehicle that did not stop after the collision and continued on Cranberry Highway (Route 6 and 28) toward Bourne. The vehicle was described only as being gray in color.
Wareham EMS paramedics provided preliminary medical treatment at the scene, then transported the firefighter to Rhode Island Hospital, where treatment of multiple serious injuries is ongoing.
During investigation of the incident by Wareham Police and the Mass State Police, with regard to the involved operator and vehicle information obtained through the Wareham Police “Text-A-Tip” computer program, detectives were led to the Knights Inn in Barnstable, where a gray/silver Subaru Forester hatchback with matching damage was located. Subsequent investigation led to sufficient probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant for the male operator, identified as Paul J. Durgin, age 28, of 189 Farmersville Road in Sandwich.
With assistance from Barnstable Police, Durgin was placed under arrest at the Knights Inn and transported to Wareham Police headquarters. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Wareham Fourth District Court later this afternoon on charges of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (motor vehicle).
Chief Kevin Walsh praised the work of investigators since the time of this incident, and also praised and thanked those people who used the “Text-a-Tip” app and provided valuable information, showing a great intolerance for such an irresponsible and inconsiderate act.
Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.
--Wareham Police