ALBANY, N.Y. — Garland “Chico” Martin, a Bristol Planning Commission member and Bristol Elementary School director, is recovering from injuries he sustained in a serious, one-vehicle crash near Comstock, N.Y., on Aug. 20.
Martin sustained a number of fractures in his upper and lower legs and broken bones in other areas of his body, including his ribs, when his vehicle veered off the road and into a tree. According to the Glens Falls Post-Star, it took just under three hours to extract him from his car — during which time he was conscious — while a team of doctors flew in from Albany Medical Center by helicopter to administer on-the-spot treatment. Martin was then airlifted to Albany Medical Center.
Martin, the former longtime owner of Alley Beat (a music and bookstore in Middlebury), was headed through New York to his 40th high school reunion at around 4 p.m. when he veered off the road.
Martin’s wife, Susan Stewart, said the cause of the crash is still unclear.
Stewart has been in Albany since shortly after the accident, and their son Chester traveled up from Washington, D.C., to be by Martin’s side. Stewart said that Martin has already undergone several surgeries and is healing very well, though he will have a long recuperation period at home after he returns.
“We plan to be back (in Vermont) as soon as we can,” she said.
Stewart said Martin’s spirits have remained high throughout his hospitalization, and that well-wishers who have called, emailed and commented on the blog http://chicosrecovery.blogspot.com/, have all been a great help to the family.
“We extend our gratitude to the doctors and nurses and staff here in Albany,” said Stewart, “(and) to the incredible outpouring of support from friends and neighbors.”
“We expect Chico to make a full recovery, but it’s going to be a long road,” she said.
Reporter Andrea Suozzo is at [email protected].