Superstorm Riley claimed the only fatality in the Commonwealth, here in Plympton. Ryan W. MacDonald, 36, of Main Street lost his life Friday night, March 2, while driving home from work at about 5:15 p.m. in his Dodge Ram pickup truck. His truck was hit by a falling tree at 101 Cedar St., Plympton.
First responders were hampered in their efforts to get to MacDonald, as trees had been brought down all around the vehicle and were blocking the roads, according to Plympton Police Chief Patrick Dillon. It took more than 20 minutes to get to the scene because of the fallen trees, downed utility wires, and debris blocking the roads, Dillon told The Express.
Responding from the Plympton Police was Sgt. Brian Cranshaw. From the Fire Dept. was Captain/Paramedic Cheryl Davis, first to arrive with the engine crew, Paramedic Ian Andrews and Firefighter/EMT Andrew Norton. Arriving in the ambulance were Firefighter/Paramedic Gary Somero and Firefighter/Paramedic Paul Skarinka.
Despite their best efforts, MacDonald was declared dead at the scene and the State Police took jurisdiction.
Chief Dillon said, “This is a tragedy for the town … this is sad. It’s sad any time you lose a citizen, but this one is particularly difficult …”
MacDonald and his wife, Andreah J. MacDonald, had bought their house on Main St. a few months ago, their dream house, according to his friend Justin Dennison. They lived there with their children, daughter Avery, age 11 and son, Tegan. 8.
“Ryan grew up a lot sooner than the rest of us, “ Dennison continued. “He knew what he wanted early on, what was important to him, what was right: home and family… When we finally caught up to him, we envied all that he had, beautiful wife, kids, it seemed like he had it all… This is surreal. It can’t be true. But it is.”
The town is stunned by the news. MacDonald grew up in Plympton on Pope’s Farm. He graduated from Silver Lake Regional High School.
MacDonald worked as a journeyman electrician, a member of IBEW Local 223. Adam Perry worked with Ryan and described him as “a regular guy, a super hard worker.with a great sense of humor; you couldn’t not like him.”
He was a member of the Upland Sportsman Club in Plympton. Ryan played hockey and was a coach for his his son’s hockey team.
His funeral will be Saturday, March 10, at the First Parish Church, 19 Town Square, Plymouth, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. This is the church where Ryan married Andreah a lifetime ago.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Go Fund Me fund that has been set up for his family at
http://bit.ly/macfamily