D'Addario Employees Save Man Who Crashed Into Farmingdale Factory

FARMINGDALE, NY — A man's life was saved following a car crash thanks to the quick thinking of employees of D'Addario & Co. Inc., a manufacturer in East Farmingdale. The team also prevented extensive damage to the factory itself, D'Addario stated in a news release.

A man was driving a 2017 Dodge Charger southbound on Wellwood Avenue in East Farmingdale when he lost control and struck a building at 590 Smith St. at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 25, Suffolk police said.

The crash blew out the cinder blocks and brickwork covering the building's electrical room and plumbing system, according to the business.

Yan Hernandez, a product technician for D'Addario, heard what was described as a "deafening boom" and ran over to the crash immediately. The Dodge struck with enough force to crack the fire sprinkler and water risers, causing water to flood everywhere, pummeling the electrical panel and flowing inside the car.

Hernandez signaled to other employees to evacuate. Hernandez, who has experience as a volunteer firefighter, inserted a plywood board in front of the Dodge's windshield to divert the water and pull the unconscious driver to safety in less than three minutes.

The man was brought to a local hospital by the East Farmingdale Volunteer Fire Company, police said.

It wasn't just Hernandez who pitched in, according to D'Addario. Within 10 minutes of the crash, Hernandez, alongside Supplier Development Engineer Bryan Kelly, broke the valve lock to turn the water off to reduce the flooding. Corporate Tax Manager David Gerard arrived to take care of all insurance calls, while Value Stream Manager Brian Johnson and Global Vice President of Engineering and Research & Development Steve Murray aided with the clean-up.

Facilities and Safety Manager John Scalzo called on several D'Addario contractors, suppliers, and vendors to help with the restoration process. Because of the urgency around the repair, eight companies ranging from plumbers to electricians to construction companies and cleaning crews stopped what they were working on to assist. The factory was up and running again within a couple of days.

D'Addario has always prided itself on behaving like a family, according to the release.

"Family is the cornerstone of the core values we share at D'Addario," CEO John D'Addario III stated. "The availability and willingness of our employees to not only save a man's life and our contractors to quickly repair the building is a testament to the strong, respectable relationships we have built over the years."

D'Addario manufactures musical instrument accessories marketed under brands including D’Addario Fretted, D’Addario Orchestral, D’Addario Woodwinds, Promark Drumsticks, Evans Drumheads, and Puresound Snare Wires. The family-owned and operated business dates back to the 17th century and has more than 1,100 employees worldwide. It crafts 95 percent of its products in the United States, and its musical accessories are distributed in 120 countries.