Way To Go!: Matthew Spadone, Copiague

A Copiague teenager who went to the aid of a woman involved in a motorcycle crash has been recognized for heroism.

Matthew Spadone, a junior at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School, received the Town of Babylon’s Heroism Award — the highest honor given to residents by the town — for assisting the woman injured in the crash last spring at the intersection of Montauk Highway and Great Neck Road.

He also has received awards from the Copiague Fire Department, Boy Scouts of America and Copiague Youth League.

“I’m happy I was able to help the woman and she is OK,” said Spadone, 16, a Boy Scout.

Spadone was heading home from Tanner Park in Amityville when he saw a motorcycle with two riders get cut off by a car, causing the bike’s female passenger to be tossed off and the back tire to run over her leg. He acted quickly to move the woman off the road and stayed with her until an ambulance arrived 15 minutes later.

The woman later described Spadone to the ambulance driver, who recalled seeing the teen — who happens to be his neighbor — at the scene.

Spadone plays on his school’s soccer, lacrosse and bowling teams. He aspires to become a teacher of Earth science.

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.