Charleston officer provides assistance at car accident scene

Published Oct. 1, 2009
By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Arredondo
437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- An officer assigned to Charleston AFB helped rescue workers get to a victim of a car accident in north Charleston on Sept. 28.

Capt. Kari Fleming, a C-17 pilot with the 15th Airlift Squadron, was heading west on Interstate 526 while driving to work when she was stopped on the Don Holt Bridge due to an accident in the eastbound lanes of the interstate.

According to local news reports, there was a three-car accident that stopped all eastbound traffic. Also on the same road was a 18-wheel semi tractor-trailer. Drivers approaching the original accident were rubber necking and as the driver of the 18-wheeler approached, he was forced to slam on his brakes to avoid rear ending several vehicles. As a result, the 18-wheeler hit the wall of the bridge and then skidded back across the traffic lanes and struck the median. The driver was thrown from the cab of the vehicle and landed in the outside eastbound lane.

To help emergency medical services to the scene, Captain Fleming, along with two civilians, who were also caught up in the traffic, got out of their vehicle to direct traffic, allowing the EMS get to the scene of the accident.

For Captain Fleming, it was a matter of getting emergency medical services to the driver as soon as possible.

"Cars were struggling to move for the EMS," she said. "Judging by the traffic ahead, I knew it would take hours for it to arrive on scene unless the cars were moved."

Though it was only Captain Fleming and the two other drivers out there directing traffic, the other drivers were more than willing to move out of the way.

"[The other drivers] were eager to follow directions," she said.

While directing traffic, her thought was to get help to the victim as soon as possible.

"The difference between life and death can be determined by seconds. I was just praying the victim(s) were not suffering. I felt horrible for the individuals involved," Captain Fleming said.

Because of Captain Fleming and two civilians help in directing traffic, EMS personnel were able to reach the victim and provide medical assistance.

According a local newspaper, the truck driver recognized how her efforts helped get the care he needed.

"She certainly went further above and beyond than she had to," Steven Fretwell said in a news report.

Her efforts were also recognized by her unit's leadership.

"What Captain Fleming did on Monday to facilitate th EMS crew across the bridge doesn't surprise me at all," Lt. Col. Michael Mitchel, 15th AS deputy commander. "She is a great officer and superb pilot who always puts the welfare of others above herself."

While the outcome was a good one for the driver, Captain Fleming would like to remind drivers about what they should do when seeing emergency lights in their rearview mirror.

"Do the right thing in a tragic situation. Be proactive and help the EMS in any way ... even if it is just getting out of the way."