Medevac Transports Verona Trauma Victim

A man with multiple stab wounds was airlifted to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Paterson Monday after a medical rescue helicopter landed on a Verona field.

Witnesses said the man, who's name was not released, appeared to be in his 50s and because of his wounds, he needed to be transported to the nearest trauma hospital.

Verona Police Chief Douglas Huber said the initial indication was the man was stabbed, but he could not release further details citing health privacy laws.

Huber confirmed the incident took place at a local residence. The man was transferred to 880 Bloomfield Ave. where the Medevac helicopter landed on Veteran's Field, a grass surface.

Reached by telephone, Township Manager Joe Martin said Monday he was gathering additional details about the incident and may have more information Tuesday.

While very few details were made available, a Verona police dispatcher said an unknown person contacted police at approximately 2 p.m. requesting an ambulance. 

Huber said two officers accompanied the rescue squad to the field for the helicopter. Police usually accompany members of the rescue squad, he said.

Medevac helicopters landing in the usually quiet township are unusual for Verona, a 2.8-square-mile-wide township with a population of around 13,500 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Witnesses said activities at the field returned to normal shortly after the helicopter departed at approximately 2:56 p.m.

Walkers and joggers continued around the track at the field while members of the rescue squad put on new blue gloves and resupplied their medical packs.

Nearby, the scene was very much the same as parents picked up their children from the H.B. Whitehorne Middle School and school crossing guards helped children across the street, according to witnesses.

Business at town hall returned to normal as well.

This is a breaking news story. Patch will update this story when new information becomes available.

— Local Editors Teresa Akersten and Associate Regional Editor Jack Durschlag, contributed to this report.