NORWICH – A 20-year-old Norwich man was airlifted to Wilson Hospital in Johnson City following an incident involving a 15-year-old Norwich youth that took place Thursday afternoon on what’s long been known as “Smokers’ Hill,” located near the Norwich High School. The youth, believed to be a NHS student, has been charged with second degree assault and is scheduled to appear in Norwich Family Court at a later date. Andrew Graham, the 20-year-old Norwich man, received what bystanders called a serious injury to his head.

Graham’s current condition was unavailable as of press time.

Yesterday, at approximately 2:17 p.m., authorities responded to a report of an alleged altercation occurring in an area between Westcott Street and Midland Drive known colloquially as “Smokers’ Hill.” The incident reportedly began as a verbal dispute between two unidentified individuals, when Graham intervened and was allegedly struck by the 15-year-old youth, causing him to fall and striking his head against the pavement, which resulted in the head injury and left him in a semi-conscious state. Authorities are still unsure as to whether Graham intervened in an attempt to mollify or aggravate the situation. His reason for being at “Smokers’ Hill” at that time is also obscure.

LifeNet out of Sidney responded shortly thereafter, landing on school grounds due to its convenient location and wide open fields, idyllic for setting down a helicopter, said authorities.

“We are just happy to be a resource for local police and firefighter departments,” said Norwich City School District Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan of the situation. “It (‘Smokers’ Hill) is a location off of school property where students congregate and it is unfortunately very close to the school.”