Update: Firefighter Hospitalized After Hit By Tree Limb In Framingham, Helped Others Avoid Injury

This story was updated Thursday morning.

FRAMINGHAM, MA — A man walking Wednesday along Eaton Road was struck on his head and seriously injured by a falling tree limb.

The large oak branch fell unexpectedly around 12:30 p.m. and hit Selvin Sandoval, 39, who was then briefly trapped beneath it, according to Framingham fire officials.

Sandoval is a lieutenant with the Waltham Fire Department, and was off duty at the time. Paramedics brought him to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston for treatment.

A Framingham spokesperson told Patch he was alert, conscious and in stable condition when he was transported by ambulance.

Witnesses said Sandoval noticed the limb beginning to fall and warned people nearby – including Department of Public Works employees and an Amazon delivery driver – allowing them to move to safety before the limb came down.

Sandoval managed to free himself from the fallen branch. People at the scene provided first aid until emergency personnel arrived.

Storms with high winds damaged and toppled some trees in the Boston area Tuesday night, though it's not clear if weather affected the tree on Eaton Road, a residential street near the Wayland town line.

Framingham Fire Chief Michael Dutcher called the victim's actions “courageous.”

Waltham Fire Chief Randy Mullin said in a statement, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Lt. Sandoval and his family at this challenging time. We wish him a quick and full recovery.”

Sandoval grew up in Waltham and is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq.

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