ALBANY—Representative Eric Massa is using a Good Samaritan story to raise money for his re-election campaign.
His campaign’s political director, Dorothy Drahzal, sent out the e-mail below. Massa is facing a tough re-election, but I find this slightly odd.
Dear Friend:
This week I wanted to share with you a recent article from a local paper here in the District. It is an accounting of an accident in Olean where Congressman Massa (D-NY29) was the first-on-scene and helped the accident victim. This is a simple story highlighting one of the reasons so many people feel a personal affinity with Eric that they never thought they could feel for a congressperson. Those of you who have met Eric will recognize him. For those of you who have not met Eric directly it may give you a glimpse into who he is. A man who has made only one campaign promise, again and again — to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. Please read on and then please make a donation to keep Eric as a voice of reason on Capitol Hill.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 6:06 PM EST “Congressman turns EMT to help Olean Driver”
By Rick Miller, Olean Times Herald
An Olean man who was involved in an accident on Interstate 86 in Corning this past weekend got some congressional intervention. Scott Ervay was eastbound on Interstate 86 on his way to Arnott Mall in Corning for some Christmas shopping when his pickup truck hit an icy patch on a bridge near Route 15 shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday. The truck rolled over once and ended up in the median – totaled. An emergency medical technician who happened to be driving by saw the accident and pulled over in a turnaround a short distance away where he saw a state trooper in his patrol car.
Rep. Eric Massa of Corning, who was on his way to his weekly radio show in Hornell, walked up to the trooper and alerted him to the nearby accident and said he was an emergency medical technician. The trooper drove Rep. Massa back to the accident site. Mr. Ervay, who was dazed from the accident and the airbag being deployed, had been helped from his overturned truck and to the side of the highway, where Rep. Massa found him. While a woman named Samantha held Mr. Ervay’s head, the congressman used his EMT skills to check out the accident victim.
“There is a series of things you are trained to do to check someone for injuries,” Rep. Massa said, recalling how he checked Mr. Ervay’s head, reflexes, rib cage and other vital signs. When the ambulance arrived, he recounted what he had found as the ambulance crew put Mr. Ervay in a neck brace and on a backboard. “The guy recognized my name,” Rep. Massa said. “I hope I earned his vote,” he laughed.
Rep. Massa was certified as a paramedic and EMT eight years ago. He took courses over a six-month period and later volunteered to ride on Corning ambulances. The I-86 accident was his 12th rescue in the past 12 years. “I don’t talk about this aspect of my life as a first-responder,” he explained. “I don’t go out and advertise it.” He’s been the first on the scene at other accidents in the Washington, D.C area, in Rochester, Corning and on the road to and from Washington.
Rep. Massa offered to call Mr. Ervay’s family to say he was headed to Corning Hospital and that his injuries were not life-threatening. His son, Jamie, of Olean, got Rep. Massa’s message and called his father before driving to Corning to pick him up after he was released from the hospital. Later that night, Mr. Ervay, 44, a site supervisor for Owl Homes, called Rep. Massa to personally thank him.
Contacted by the Times Herald Tuesday, Mr. Ervay said he was alone in his truck when the accident occurred. When the truck came to a stop, he said he saw smoke pouring out of the floor and decided he had to get out. The truck lay on the driver’s side. He took off his seatbelt and tried to push open the passenger’s door. “I could hear people yelling,” he said. “People had stopped and were running toward me. Within a matter of minutes, they helped me to the side of the road.” He was placed in a car to stay warm and the woman whose name was Samantha held his neck straight to minimize any neck injury.
“That’s when Eric Massa came along,” Mr. Ervay said. “He said his named was Eric and that he was an EMT. He checked my vital signs and asked if there was anyone he could call. He left a message for Jamie. He said he was sorry we had to meet under these conditions. Then Sam said, ‘Thank you congressman.’ He said, ‘Don’t worry, it’s my other job.” Mr. Ervay said, “I was amazed so many people stopped to help. The trooper mentioned the congressman at the hospital, but it didn’t sink in who he was until my son Jamie said who he was.” Rep. Massa called his son later Sunday to see how Mr. Ervay was. Jamie got his number and I called him back to thank him. I don’t even know what he looks like. It’s cool that he stopped.”
As far as voting for Rep. Massa, Mr. Ervay sheepishly said he wasn’t registered to vote. That may change, however.
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If you believe, as I do, that this is the kind of person who will best represent you in Congress, please donate now.
Click here to be one of 2010 contributors to give $20.10 for Victory in 2010!
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With sincerest wishes for the very best for you and your family and friends throughout the holidays season & the New Year,
Dorothy Drahzal
