Robert Morton, Jr., 27, died in the line of duty April 11, 1938, when he was thrown from the rear of an ambulance while responding to an emergency on Staten Island.
Morton’s skull was fractured, and he succumbed to his injuries later the same day. “Dr. Morton, who was specializing in surgery at St. Vincent’s, had been assigned to ambulance duty. About 2 p.m. a call was made for an ambulance to go to an address on N. Burgher Ave.
Dr. Morton responded in an ambulance driven by John Tighe,” the New York Times article reads in part. “The entrance that on the small seat at the rear of the vehicle, which is closed by the swinging doors. Detectives expressed the belief that one of the doors swung open, and that Dr. Morton, in an attempt to close it, lost his balance and was thrown for the speeding machine.
Tighe was unaware of the accident until a passersby called to him.” Morton was a graduate of Fordham University and of the New York University Medical College. He began his internship at St. Vincent’s July of 1937.