Local Guardsmen Assist At Scene Of Fatal Crash On I-69
Posted
Jen Gibson-jgibson@timesuniononline.com
After a long, hot weekend of training in Fort Custer in Augusta, Mich., soldiers from the 293rd Infantry were ready to go home and get some rest.
But there was no rest for the weary Sunday as the tired soldiers came upon a serious accident on I-69 near Angola that took the life of Beth Smith, wife of professional golfer Chris Smith, Peru."We were at the wrong place at the right time, or the right place at the wrong time" said SSgt. Tim Taylor, who was with the unit when they came upon the accident.
As the unit was traveling home on I-69, they saw a large cloud of smoke and noticed that traffic had come to a stop. The group, which has several members from the Warsaw area, guided their Humvees to the berm of the road and found the source of the smoke: a serious accident between an SUV and a Greyhound bus.
The SUV was on fire, and there were several people injured from the bus.
The Guardsmen, seeing the injured people, got out their combat lifesaving kits and went to work, tending to people's needs.
According to Taylor, the combat lifesaving kits are similar to first responder bags with a few extra pieces, including IV tubes and bags.
Since emergency crews had not yet arrived at the scene, the soldiers set up a makeshift triage area to treat the injured and began directing traffic around the accident scene. Those who were hurt the worst were treated first. The officers also made a landing zone for a helicopter to land to fly patients away from the scene.
Taylor said when the unit pulled up to the accident, there was "debris all over the place."
Two soldiers found occupants of the SUV at the side of the road and began treating their injuries, which were severe.
Others used the unit's extra water cans to give drinks to people who were shaken up, but not injured severely.
Eight of the soldiers that helped at the scene were from the Warsaw area: Taylor, Sgt. Donald Dickerson; Sgt. Lucas Gibson; Spc. Bryan Frush; PFC Seth Owen; Spc. Johnathon Zeisig, Spec. Jeffery Townsend and Spc. Aaron Heaton.
"We are trained to help people," said Taylor. "We did what we could to help as many people as we could."
