Bennington Rescue Squad operator dies in accident

A Bennington Rescue Squad member is dead following an accident that occurred on Route 9 in the Town of Bennington, according to the Bennington Police Department.

Dale Long, 48, of Bennington, was an operator on the Bennington Rescue Squad and was in the middle of transporting a patient from the Health Center to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center when his Rescue Squad vehicle hit a 2008 Toyota truck, police say.

The 2008 Toyota truck was at the intersection of Pleasant Valley Rd. and Route 9 when the Rescue Squad vehicle hit it, according to police.

The Bennington PD received a call from a paramedic that was involved in the transfer at 3:32 PM requesting a police, fire, and rescue response to the scene of the crash.

Long was transported to Vermont Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Police say the patient that was being transported by the Bennington Rescue Squad received serious injuries due to the crash and was airlifted to Albany Medical Center.