The Little Things You Don't Hear About

Two Suffolk County Police officers and a Good Samaritan helped rescue a Shirley man who was trapped under his vehicle Saturday afternoon.

Suffolk County Police Patrol Special Operations officers were conducting an investigation in Shirley when they observed a man calling for assistance at 282 William Floyd Parkway. The officers found Walter Noriega, 31, pinned under a minivan. Noriega did not appear to be breathing. The officers immediately requested heavy rescue and aviation to assist in the extrication and transport. Officers Christopher Koltzan and Timothy Romaine used a car jack from their car and lifted the van, enabling Noriega to breathe. A Good Samaritan, Isaac Freeman, of Shirley, responded to the scene and assisted the officers by using his personal floor jack. Together they pulled Noriega out from under his minivan.

Suffolk County Police Seventh Squad detectives investigated the incident and determined that Noriega had been changing the oil in his minivan when it slid off the car ramp, trapping him beneath it.

Noriega was airlifted by Suffolk County Police helicopter to Stony Brook University Medical Center where he is being treated for internal injuries and is in stable condition.