Airman helps save civilians from burning car

Published April 30, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Ashlin Federick
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Sometimes the Air Force training, such as Self Aid and Buddy Care, Airmen are taught in their careers can be very helpful in everyday life.

This proved to be true for Senior Airman Tyler Bagby, 436th Communications Squadron communications focal point controller, and his wife Stevie Bagby, a volunteer emergency medical technician, when they helped rescue two civilians from a burning car April 13, 2013, on northbound Delaware Route 1 in Dover, Del.

When Bagby and his wife were returning home from grocery shopping, they noticed traffic was running a little slow on Delaware Route 1 so they sped up to see what the problem was. When they got there, they noticed a car on the opposite side of the highway on its side and on fire. They parked their car in a safe location and jumped the barrier to access the scene. They saw an older gentleman trapped under the car.

A few people passing by in their cars gave Bagby, and a few others, fire extinguishers. He and five other people started to attempt putting the fire out before it spread too far into the engine bay. As they were trying to put the fire out, a person in a passing car yelled "get the little girl". When they looked up they saw a little girl trying to climb out of the driver's side window. Immediately they grabbed the little girl and took her away from the accident.

By the time they put the fire out the paramedics had arrived. After the paramedics accessed the scene, they decided the only chance they had of saving the man was to get him out of the car. Working together 12 to 15 people tipped the car over just enough for Bagby, three other people and an EMT to pull the man out.

After the EMT's secured both civilians, they loaded them up in an ambulance and transported them to a local emergency room for further assessment of their injuries. After giving the state trooper their information, Bagby and his wife cleaned up and headed to the hospital to check on the little girl.

Later that night Bagby and his wife got a phone call from one of the state troopers that were at the scene. He told them that the both the little girl and the older gentleman were going to be alright.

Bagby said his wife was a volunteer firefighter for seven years and said this is the worst thing she had seen.

"It was traumatizing," said Bagby. "I thought about it a couple of days afterward. Hearing from the state trooper that they were going to be alright gave me some closure."

Staff Sgt. Annaliza Kennedy, 436th Communications Squadron communications focal point technician, said she was very proud of Bagby's selfless quick-thinking and courageous actions. She said she was also relieved Bagby managed to stay unharmed as he helped bring individuals in a hazardous circumstance to safety and kept the situation from escalating to potentially higher level of devastation.

"Senior Airman Bagby's actions are a direct reflection of his strong character," said Kennedy. "Bagby realized there was a situation that he could be of assistance in and he didn't hesitate to jump into action."

Stevie Bagby got her certification as an EMT in 2010.

Stevie said even though, as a volunteer EMT, she is not obligated by law to stop but morally she cannot pass an accident no matter how big or small. She also said she carries a full trauma kit in the truck of her car.

"It was a horrible event but I am glad that I and some other trained staff were there to help before the fire service got there, otherwise it could have ended a lot worse," said Stevie.

Bagby said his wife taught him a lot and this is not the first time this has happened. He said they have driven up on at least five different accidents that they have stopped and assisted with. He said he now carries latex gloves, emergency flares and a tourniquet in the trunk of his car.

"In situations like that, your training, whether it be Air Force training like SABC or outside training form other people, takes over and you just do what you know is right," he said.