Victim was working at Hopewell Township residence
By Ruth Luse
Fernando Villa Reyes, 21, of Camden underwent emergency surgery on his right arm and shoulder yesterday (Thursday) at UMDNJ in Newark after an accident involving a portable cement mixer, police said.
Chief George Meyer said this afternoon that Mr. Reyes "suffered multiple fractures" to his arm and other injuries. "He is recovering. They managed to save his arm."
Mr. Reyes, who was working for RTW Construction Incorporated, Southhampton, was doing masonry work on the rear porch of a private residence on Harbourton-Woodsville Road, Hopewell Township, when the accident occurred. Police got the call at 2:14 p.m.
Mr. Reyes, said Chief Meyer, was cleaning out the portable cement mixer while the machine was still running. "Apparently his right arm became entangled in the spinning agitator inside of the drum portion of the machine."
"Mr. Reyes was actually pulled off of his feet and partially inside of the drum," the chief added.
"The homeowner heard Mr. Reyes calling for help, found him partially inside of the machine and alerted co-workers, who were working in another area of the property. The co-workers then stopped the machine," Chief Meyer said.
Hopewell Fire Department, under the command of Chief William Springer, went to the scene. Also answering the call were the Hopewell Emergency Medical Unit, Hopewell Valley Emergency Services, Capitol Health Systems Paramedics and a NJ State Police medivac helicopter.
Police said rescue personnel cut the drum portion of the machine open using power saws and an air chisel and freed Mr. Reyes from the machine after approximately 45 minutes. Mr. Reyes was flown by Northstar medivac helicopter to UMDNJ.
Investigating officer was Mandy Grey.

