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Airmen help save a life at crash scene

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Karl Wiest
  • 24th Training Support Squadron
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  Airmen are trained to be steadfast under pressure and must exhibit a willingness to act in everyday life. These attributes depict the men and women of Maxwell and more specifically Staff Sgt. Donnell Fulton, 22nd Training Support Squadron, and Senior Airman Derius Jackson, 42nd Security Forces Squadron.

On a routine trip home from work on Feb. 15, these two Airmen witnessed a serious motor vehicle crash involving a single vehicle that had rolled several times off of the interstate and down an adjacent hill.

"I noticed that traffic was slowing down," said Airman Jackson. "Then a couple of seconds later, I saw a car come across the lane and it flipped twice right off the road."
Instinctively, Airman Jackson and Sergeant Fulton, who both witnessed the accident separately, jumped from their vehicles and headed down the hill.

"It was as if everything was in slow motion," said Sergeant Fulton, "and I just did what I was trained to do -- help people."

Working together the Airmen were able to free the individual from the wreckage as the vehicle began to leak fuel and emit smoke. The victim was bleeding profusely and complaining of pain in the side of his torso.

"We then took him up the hill and laid him down," said Airman Jackson. "I kept talking to him to make sure he was conscious. I had been doing Self Aid Buddy Care that day, so I guess that paid off."

It certainly did.

Airman Jackson and Sergeant Fulton continued to treat and monitor the victim until paramedics arrived. At that time, however, Jackson's uniform was soaked in blood.

The following week, Col. Angela Stout, commandant of Officer Training School, and Master Sgt. Crystal Shepherd, OTS superintendent, presented Airman Jackson with a new set of ABU's and thanked both service members for their selfless actions.

"Think about how many people saw that accident and just continued to drive by," said Sergeant Shepherd. "These two Airmen decided to act when most people just continued on their way. This is the definition of service before self, and we are all very proud of these Airmen."