I was fairly close behind and pretty much saw it unfold.

On the hill in the second lap a group of about 12 got off the front.
None of us (me, Sergio or Will) were near enough to the front to make
an immediate chase. It was difficult to get to the front given the size
of the field and the limited space on the road. After the hill, some of
us tried to chase but we weren't as well-organized, committed, or
strong (seemingly) as the breakaway group. One guy took a pretty hard
pull and I followed him (and signaled that I was up to the challenge).
When it came time for someone else to pull though, nobody was there. I
tried an extra pull to keep the effort going (mistake) but no-one was
able or willing to join at that point.

My extra effort resulted in my losing touch with the second group (the
main pack) which included Will. I think Sergio was blocked even further
on the hill and was in another group behind me at this point (but
jumping up through the groups like he was playing hopscotch).

After catching my breath and feeling some legs again I took a couple of
pulls on what I think was the third group on the road in order to
reconnect with the second group (where Will was). We managed to catch
them on the downhill section before route 12. They were still evidently
trying to catch the breakaway but it appeared that the breakaway was
further away than it was earlier.

When we hit the first part of route 12 (where it's downhill for maybe a
quarter mile) our pack of about 30 riders was flying along at about 36
mph. I was toward the back of this group breathing hard having just
connected with them second before. I saw the road tip up and
anticipated a little pack compression as the rear of the group still
had the momentum that the front was rapidly losing. This is indeed what
happened. The pack compressed and I saw bikes swerving in front of me.
A couple of bikes appeared to tangle up sideways in front of me and
then I heard the sound of metal (and carbon I suppose) on pavement. In
a fraction of a second I was barely avoiding a fallen rider in an NEBC
jersey with a grey/silver bike. Someone in front of me rode right over
him.

Having avoided a crash I felt a rush of relief. This was quickly
dispelled as my mind played an instant replay... NEBC jersey, grey
silver bike ... I suddenly remembered that Will was in front of me and
had a pit in my stomach when I turned around to see who I'd just
avoided running over. It was Will! Worse than that, he was out cold and
bleeding from several places on his face.

needless to say I stopped and went back to him to help however I could.
I then flagged down Sergio and we both helped explain who he was while
another rider who was an RN gave some much-needed leadership to his
immediate care while we awaited an ambulance.

He eventually came to and was able to recognize me (though not
immediately by name) and was able to feel his legs. The EMTs carefully
put him on a back board (with neck collar) and took him to UMass Trauma
center. Sergio & I then tried to reach his wife (in Western Mass at the
time) and our families who might have been wondering where we were.

Later on, Sergio & I made it to the hospital just in time to be there
for his departure. I couldn't believe it. Anyway. I suspect he and
Sergio will have other details to add. It's not my story after all. But
thanks for asking. It's been therapuetic for me to write it down. Very
scary this was.

-Dan

Eye-Witness Account #2: Bob Evans

Will -

I was the USCF official following your race. By lap 2 it had shattered into several groups, but everyone in the still-racing groups seemed to be in contention, so I stayed behind what looked like the last of the serious chase and kept the wheel van there too. Since you were ahead of us, I found you lying in the road, accompanied by a citizen who had stopped and had already made a 911 call. He had done the right thing by parking behind you and the group of two (or three) non-NEBC riders who had also stopped to do what they could, turned his flashers on, and blocked traffic in your lane. My driver and I, and the wheel van too, stopped behind his car, jumped out, asked the citizen and the attending riders whether they had called for help and, hearing that they had made the 911 call, sent wheels on to cover the field. I asked my driver to direct traffic around the scene. One of the assisting riders had immobilized your head (standard first aid practice under such conditions) and another was calling your name and assuring you that help was on the way. It would be an understatement to say that you didn't look well; but at least you responded to the attending riders' "Will, Will, hang in there's" by feebly waving your right hand. I asked them for details of what had happened and they said someone knocked you down and then several riders behind you had ridden over you. From the appearance of your left eye, which they had by then covered with a gauze pad, it seemed likely to me that one of the riders who went over you could have put a pedal directly into it. Three or four minutes after I arrived, two Sterling police cars reached the scene, and I verified with one of the officers that they now considered themselves in charge. So we jumped into in our vehicle, saw an incoming ambulance as we departed, and raced back to job of following the race. When we rode through the finish line we paused and passed along to the Chief Referee your name and what I knew of the situation as we had last seen it.

It is something of an NEBC tradition that teammates coalesce about an injured member, so I button-holed as many as I could (Todd Rowell in particular) and mentioned that you had been “transported” in hopes that they would step up and help with logistics, like recovering your bike, car, etc. I also passed an email note to NEBC’s BOD and captains advising them of your accident and asking whether anyone could provide post-accident details. This provoked a response from someone to the effect that a pair of non-racers had accompanied you to Sterling and were taking care of the nitty-gritty.

I would guess that it was these exchanges which prompted Ross to call you (what a guy!). But many of us were, and still are, concerned, and hope you recover quickly, completely, and eager to go racing again!

Bob Evans

PS: We socialized with Jack Donahue that evening, and I, still somewhat rattled, mentioned the incident to him, with the result that he too became rattled. He forwarded the note you sent to “the workplace” to me.