McConnell Airmen assist crash victims

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Trevor Rhynes
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Four McConnell Airmen acted as first responders during a motorcycle accident on the west side of Pawnee near Webb, Dec. 16, 2013.

The two-motorcycle accident happened at approximately 5 p.m. that day, just as the Airmen were on their commute home.

"We were in our car, waiting at a stop light when I saw two motorcycles make a turn, then go speeding down the street," said Tech Sgt. Michael Morin, 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aircraft section NCOIC. "They were originally in separate lanes, but when they started to reach traffic, one person slowed down and went into the other's lane, cutting him off."

That's when one biker slammed his brakes, sending a cloud of smoke into the air.

"There was a huge cloud of smoke, so I didn't see much originally other than two flying bikes," said Capt. Benjamin Wilson, 22nd Medical Support Squadron flight commander. "I immediately pulled over and ran up to the wreckage. I saw the 13-year-old girl there trying to sit up on her own, but she was in shock. I got to her, tried to calm her down and said that help was on its way."

The accident involved three people; the girl, her 25 year-old brother and a 28 year-old biker.

"I had already started to turn around to see if I could help, because I knew those guys were going to be hurt badly," Morin said. "We immediately knew that one person didn't make it so I focused my attention to the siblings."

"About 15 feet away her brother wasn't moving, he was facedown and his body was twisted," Wilson said. "When I got to him I was thinking about self aid buddy care procedures. I saw that he was breathing and I put my hand on his shoulder and asked if he could hear me."

Morin was on the phone with 911 while Wilson performed SABC on the brother. Firefighters arrived within ten minutes, with an ambulance and police officers arriving shortly after.

"We were helping where we could, then the first responders arrived and it was out of our hands," said 1st Lieutenant Christopher Akui, 350th Air Refueling Squadron navigator. "Initially I could see a lot of people driving away without putting much thought into it. It seems like they thought the incident wasn't their concern."

The experience took just over two hours with both siblings being transported to a local medical facility, Akui said.

"It's possibly the worst accident I've ever seen," Morin said. "I'm grateful these guys pulled over to help take care of the siblings and help facilitate everything."