Crime & Safety

Why Were There 200 Police Cars on Route 495?

Emergency responders from around New England are headed to Virginia to give one boy his wish.

Travelers this morning may have noticed a long stream of police cars traveling on Route 495 south around 7.

Have no worries, that wasn't for a speed trap or any other sort of crime activity. That was a trip to visit Nathan Norman.

Norman is 6-year-old from Rustburg Virginia who has brain cancer.

Find out what's happening in Framinghamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I remember the doctor saying that there was an abnormality," Dawn Norman told New Milford New Jersey Patch . "The doctor kept telling me over and over that there was an abnormality and then it hit me. He was telling me that my son had cancer."

After a surgery, which removed about half of the tumor, more has grown in around his spine in an inoperable location.

Find out what's happening in Framinghamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Like most little boys, Nathan loves to watch cops, firemen and EMT's speed to calls in shiny cars and trucks —sirens blaring and lights flashing —making no stops as they race to save people. 

This Christmas, Nathan is calling upon these heroes to make his wish come true by sending him cards, letters and patches —anything with a first responder insignia.

Now, more than 200 police officers from across New England are going to hand deliver cards to Norman.

You can read more about Nathan Norman's story on the  including where to send cards to him and his family.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.