Posted on 04/10/2012 6:05:32 PM PDT by Third Person
Salem — A 6-year-old boy died this morning when he was pulled into a commercial-size wood chipper while working with his father and two siblings.
The boy has been identified as Jeffrey Bourgeois of Salem.
State Police Lt. J. Paul Vance said that shortly after 8:45 a.m. a 911 call was received that a child had been injured by a wood chipper.
"It was a tragic accident," Vance said. "... A difficult scene for everyone who responded."
The boy's parents are Scott and Corinne Bourgeois, who own C&S Tree Removal.
Vance said the boy was with his father, who was working on a job site at 24 Brookside Drive. Vance said the father had turned his back when the boy fed a piece of wood into the chipper and was pulled in.
In this small town of about 4,000, residents and business owners were devastated at the news that one of their own had died so tragically.
Gene Maiorano, the chief of the Salem Volunteer Fire Co. for 33 years, lives nearby the Bourgeois family and was the first to respond to the scene of the accident. He said that he recalled Jeffrey visiting the firehouse with his Cub Scout pack to see the firetrucks. Maiorano also said Jeffrey and his two siblings enjoyed being outdoors. "I know that he loved working with his father," Maiorano said. "Every time they could, they enjoyed doing it. They were always outside playing and doing stuff." Maiorano said the town has endured other tragic deaths. This will be another difficult one to cope with. "It's a small town and it was a tragic accident that happened today," Maiorano said. "It's going to take a long time for the town and the family to heal."
Babe Currier-McDonald, who owns Babe's Country Deli, at the Salem Four Corners, said the Bourgeois family have been customers for years. She said Scott Bourgeois would come to the eatery every week, sometimes daily. He would often bring his children — two boys and a girl — with him. "Everyone knows him," said Currier-McDonald of Scott. "We are a small town. It affects us all." Currier-McDonald said she heard of the tragedy from, Lou Gallo, who owns the nearby Hair Power salon. "When he told me, I was left speechless," Currier-McDonald said. "Even the customers were shocked and silent. Everyone stopped eating." She said Scott's children were well behaved, adding that Jeffrey "looked just like his dad." Gallo said he cut the hair of Scott and his two sons just last week. "They are really nice folks, very down to earth," Gallo said. "The children were so well behaved. He really loved his children. It's just heartbreaking."
Vance said the Salem Volunteer Fire Department, state police from Troop K and the Eastern District Major Crime Squad responded to the scene.
First Selectman Kevin Lyden also responded. "It was a terrible tragedy," Lyden said. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the family. We will do everything we can to help the family." Lyden also notified school Superintendent Dr. Kaye Griffin of the accident. The boy was a first-grader at the elementary school, he said. School is not in session this week.
Griffin said this afternoon that grief and loss counseling services will be available for staff and students at the Salem School from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. She added that there will be additional counseling available when school resumes on Monday.
"We really do want people to know that we're here to provide whatever assistance we can," Griffin said. "When something like this happens in a school community it affects everyone. We want to reach out to help anyone that needs help."
Lyden said this evening that family members from about 45 minutes away had joined the Bourgeois family at their home. The family unplugged their home phone after receiving numerous calls offering support. The town also made arrangements to provide them lunch and dinner. Lyden stopped at the home about 4 p.m. and said a priest and grief counselors had stopped by to speak with the family. Lyden said the town will likely continue food donations and may provide other support. "It's difficult to see a family have to go through such a tragic loss like this," Lyden said. "We will get through this as a community. We will give them whatever support they need." He said counselors will be made available to emergency personnel who responded to the scene.
Police have reopened Brookside Drive and West Road. A state police cruiser is stationed in front of the family's house.
Salem is in Southeastern CT.
Hate to say it - father is a moron .
My God.
At least it was quick.
I can’t even imagine...
My prayers go out to this family and this community.
The boy’s two brothers were present. I can only imagine how affected they will be.
Your comment would have been better unsaid..........
negligence I would say
Over the years a number of people in the neighborhood have been hurt and several killed in farming accidents.But this,dear Lord-I’m going to have a hard time sleeping tonight.
Don’t have the first problem with children helping a parent or grandparent do work, but a 6-year-old feeding a commercial wood chipper??? Insanity.
I would think that the father is going to have a hard time living with himself.
Or maybe he just turned away for a couple of seconds. It’s possible that the child had been with him many times and it was just one of those freak accidents that can happen quickly.
The poor man will never get over this, nor will his wife and other children. So very, very sad.
“a priest and grief counselors had stopped by to speak with the family”
No doubt. The temptation of despair would be great.
Prayers for this poor family. Kids can do such terrible and reckless things in the blink of an eye.
Dear Lord Almighty. RIP little fellow.
Why is it always necessary for someone to be a jerk in these kinds of stories? Don’t understand how your mind works, that you would think that appropriate.
Correction: The boy’s brother and sister were present, not his two brothers.
Why is it always necessary for someone to be a jerk in these kinds of stories? Don’t understand how your mind works, that you would think that appropriate.
This story seems odd. I can’t image a 6 year old lifting a branch into a chipper large enough to pull him in.
My stomach turned when I heard the description of this. I cannot imagine the horror of being near this when it happened.
Saying these folks are in my prayers doesn’t seem good enough.
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