Toms River Officer, Samaritans Honored For Saving Motorcyclist

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River police officer and the good Samaritans who saved the life of a motorcyclist who lost his leg in a June crash were honored at the Toms River Township Council meeting Tuesday night.

Patrol Officer Bridget Badalis and brothers Christopher and Joseph Drago received proclamations and lifesaving awards from Mayor Maurice Hill and the Township Council for their actions at the June 16 crash that injured John Troncone, 25, of Jackson.

Miguel Otero, another good Samaritan who helped keep Troncone conscious and calm, was not able to attend Tuesday's meeting, township officials said.

Badalis, who was sworn in as an officer in September 2020, also is a firefighter/EMT in the Silverton Volunteer First Aid Squad. She was the first police officer on the scene of the crash. The Drago brothers and Otero witnessed the crash and quickly jumped into action, Police Chief Mitch Little said.

While Christopher Drago called 911, Miguel Otero took off his shirt and used it to try to help control the bleeding of Troncone's leg, which had been severed just above the knee when he landed on a guy wire.

Joseph Drago, meanwhile, ran to Troncone and pulled off the belt he was wearing — "It was my favorite belt," Drago told Patch the day after the crash — and wrapped it around Troncone's leg, pulling tight to try to stop the bleeding, Little said.

Badalis, who was the first police officer on the scene, grabbed a tourniquet from her gear and added it to where Drago was holding the belt. Little said the two combined were not enough to stop the bleeding completely, so a third tourniquet was added before they finally were able to stop it.

Troncone was driving on Route 70 when a car turned into his path, Little said. Troncone was thrown from his motorcycle. Little said first responders tried to save the rest of his leg, which landed 20 feet away, but it could not be reattached.

The Drago brothers and Otero then helped first responders in lifting the injured motorcyclist onto a backboard for transportation to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for further treatment.

Little praised the Drago brothers and Otero for their quick actions, and also praised Badalis, who was sworn in as a Class II officer in September 2020 and also is a firefighter/EMT in the Silverton Volunteer First Aid Squad.

"It was a perfect team effort," Little said. "If it wasn't for their quick actions, he would have bled out."

"Officer Badalis, who started with the Toms River Police Department as a special officer in September, is commended for using her training and experience to save a person’s life," Hill said. "Without the quick response and critical life support rendered by these three Good Samaritans and Officer Badalis, a life would have been lost."

Read more:

• 'This Is Someone's Son': Samaritan Recounts Motorcyclist Rescue
• Motorcyclist Loses Leg In Route 70 Crash In Toms River

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