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Father crushed by truck; 8-year-old calls 911

VERA CHINESE PHOTO | Marelin Galdamez, 8, called 911 when her father Rogelio was crushed by his Ford F150 truck. Mr. Galdamez, pictured here on a family vacation to Florida, is being treated at Stony Brook University Medical Center.

A quick-thinking 8-year-old helped save her father’s life when she called 911 after his pickup truck collapsed on top of him in Riverhead Sunday night.

Rogelio Galdamez, 40, was working on his red Ford F150 pickup outside his Horton Avenue home about 7 p.m. when the jack gave way, collapsing the vehicle on him, relatives said Monday.

The truck started to roll backwards, dragging Mr. Galdamez into the street, they said.

“We heard him yelling, ‘Help! Help! Get me out of here!” said Mr. Galdamez’s 8-year-old daughter, Marelin.

As neighbors scrambled over and worked to lift the heavy truck off her father, Marelin did what she was taught to do in case of emergency — call 911.

Police and volunteers with the Riverhead Ambulance Corps soon arrived on scene and began tending to Mr. Galdamez. He was then airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center.

Though yesterday was filled with tears for Marelin and her three brothers and one sister, she said her father is being treated at the hospital with her mother at his side.

“My mom went there today,” she said.

A Stony Brook spokesperson said Mr. Galdamez is listed in fair condition.

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