On March 2, 2018, an Onset Firefighter was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene while he was working to clear debris from the road during a fierce nor’easter. The driver, Paul J. Durgin, 30, of Sandwich, was sentenced to time in state prison on Nov. 22.

Marc Granato was responding to an emergency call on Cranberry Highway, near the Continental Marina in East Wareham, at approximately 7 p.m. Firefighters were working to secure the area as wind blew sheet metal siding off of the Continental Marina’s boat storage facility.

“Pieces of steel were flying across the road like guillotines,” said Onset Fire Chief Ray Goodwin said at the time. “We thought someone was going to get killed.”

Wareham EMS and Bourne EMS responded and transported the critically-injured Granato to Rhode Island Hospital after the crash.

When he was struck, Granato was within a closed section of the road, marked by traffic cones and caution tape, and wearing reflective gear, and emergency vehicles had lights flashing. He was thrown about forty feet by the collision.

The driver made no attempt to stop.

Durgin was arrested several days later for leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident with personal injury, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (to wit a motor vehicle.)

Durgin will serve 3 to 3 ½ years in state prison for the count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon concurrent with 2 ½ years in the house of correction for the count of leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury. Following his state prison sentence, Durgin is to serve two years of probation on and after for one count of negligent operation of a motor vehicle. 

Granato recovered from the accident, although he said in an impact statement that “I must mourn the loss of the many things that I was planning but can no longer do. I will likely have to deal with and examine the impact that this event had on me for the rest of my life.”

“I am hopeful that with today’s sentencing this hero can continue along in his healing process in body and mind,” said Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz.