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Local News

Friday, October 17, 2008

Accident victim angered about waiting for help
Oiler's Lube Express - Findlay
By JOY BROWN

STAFF WRITER

ARCADIA — Raymond "Ed" Edward Noykos II cannot sit for long periods of time without his lower back becoming numb. It serves as a reminder of a cold half-hour he spent one night earlier this year lying injured in a snow-covered field.

Noykos, not Richard Ernest as reported in a Thursday story, was the snowmobiler who crashed in a field behind Findlay's Fire Station 4 on Hancock County 236 but had to wait for help from volunteer firefighters.

While both Ernest and Noykos wrecked snowmobiles east of Findlay in late February and broke their backs, Ernest's accident happened the night before Noykos' crash.

Conflicting information and documentation from law enforcement officials contributed to the confusion between the two accidents.

Noykos on Thursday said he and three friends, taking advantage of a decent snowfall, were riding snowmobiles to Buffalo Wild Wings for a late night meal around 10 p.m. the night of Feb. 27. The accident happened between Hancock County 236 and Marion Township 237, about a quarter-mile away from the fire station, Noykos estimated.

"I'd been across this field a couple of times. I thought I knew where I was, but I went too far in one direction. I went from a wheat field to a plowed field, and I hit a natural waterway," said Noykos.

The Arcadia resident was thrown several feet from his 1999 Yamaha SX and landed on his side. While he was flying through the air, he said he remembers hoping he would not get "tangled up" in the vehicle on the way down, and wondering when he was "going to stop."

One of Noykos' friends ran to Fire Station 4 for help, but said he was turned away. The friend later claimed some of the firefighters there actually saw the accident, but even pleas from the friend (a volunteer firefighter) for a neck brace were refused.

A story in Thursday's paper reported the station captain at the time, Tim Coppes, was placed on paid leave in April following an investigation into the incident. Disciplinary documents obtained from the fire department accuse Coppes of refusing to offer help because Noykos' accident happened outside of the city limits, in Marion Township.

Coppes called the Hancock County Sheriff's Office instead.

The sheriff's office initially called the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department, which helps cover Marion Township, but that department's firefighters were not available because they were already helping the Fostoria Fire Department battle a multi-building downtown blaze, Noykos said.

So Allen Township firefighters were called, and they placed him on a backboard, put him in the bed of one firefighter's four-wheel-drive truck, and drove him out of the field to a waiting ambulance.

When Noykos' friend had returned to tell him he would have to wait longer for help, Noykos said he "lost it."

Because he could wiggle his toes, Noykos said he didn't think he was paralyzed, but he was afraid of internal bleeding. He felt pain in his lower back and left hip.

While waiting, wearing his Carhartt bibs and jacket to keep him warm, Noykos, who was conscious the whole time, shoved snow underneath him to give his back more support in the bumpy field.

He was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital, and later was driven to a Toledo hospital for further treatment in the middle of the night, he said.

He was diagnosed with a spinal compression fracture, cracked ribs and a cracked left pelvic bone. He continued to see a doctor for the injuries into June.

"I guess I'm pretty p----- off at the whole deal," said Noykos. "This happened by a fire department where they could've thrown a rock and hit me, and I have to wait for somebody else to come that's 10 miles away?"

Noykos said he did not know until he read the Thursday story that the city has mutual aid agreements with other fire departments, but he said regulations and laws that keep first responders from helping a victim that is outside of their jurisdiction need to change.

Findlay firefighters have mutual aid agreements with all the volunteer fire departments in Hancock County.

Noykos admits fault for the accident, but said he did not expect firefighters from Van Buren to have to help him when he was practically in the backyard of a Findlay fire station.

"It was a stupid accident and it should've never happened. But that doesn't give (the captain) the right to not come out and help me," said Noykos.

The city is now headed to an arbitration hearing with Coppes, who is fighting a demotion decision handed down by Findlay Fire Chief Tom Lonyo and city Safety Director Jim Barker. Coppes remains on paid leave.

As for Noykos, he will probably not hop on a snowmobile anytime soon.

At least, not the one he was riding at the time of the accident. "I got rid of it," said Noykos, not wanting to tempt fate a second time.

"I know how lucky I am," Noykos said. "I could be paralyzed or dead right now."

Brown: 419-427-8496,

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3 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
First Responder wrote:
Response time
“ Yes it is hard to believe that the Fire Dept is not allowed to help someone in their own back yard. Of course this all falls on the city and their regulations. The Findlay Fire dept should have helped them. Why did it take so long for the Ambulance to arrive? It is expected for the Volunteer fire dept to take awhile to get there. But for Hanco to take 30mins to arrive and it right in town? ”
Friday, October 17, 2008 8:46:18 PM
OLIVER BREAN wrote:
JERKS INJURED ON SNOWMOBILES
“ THIS STORY HAS NO CREDITABITY, OTHER THAN TO CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR THE FIRE CHIEF TIM COPPES TO HAVE HIS LIFE PUT ON "PAID LEAVE" HOLD:
THESE "SNOMOBLE JERKS", ALONG WITH "BICYCLE JERKS", AND STOCK MARKET INVESTORS, ALL THINK THE U.S.A. OWES THEM PROTECTION FOR THEIR ASSININE DECISIONS. OF COURSE NONE OF THE ABOVE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. (IT'S ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE") GROW UP & JOIN THE REAL WORLD. YOU PEOPLE ARE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE U.S.A.: (THAT IS THE UNITED STATED OF AMERICA): ”
Friday, October 17, 2008 6:39:16 PM
Raquel Armstrong wrote:
Jurisdiction vs. assistance when needed
“ I would like to know when somebody is going to say "to hell with jurisdiction, I might help someone in need." If I recall, the old Meijers fire was out of Findlay's jurisdiction and look at what happened then. With all the lawsuits that have gotten out of hand, it is a shame that even trained emergency care workers will not perform CPR on someone if they are not working at the time...when did fear of a lawsuit start overpowering assisting those in need? ”
Friday, October 17, 2008 10:12:50 AM
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High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

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There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.