Airman discovers overturned vehicle, passenger outside runway

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Rachelle Blake
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  Every evening, one member of the two-person airfield management operations team, drives around the perimeter of the airfield performing a nightly lighting inspection.
Every 100 feet is a light which needs to be in working condition to ensure aircraft land and take-off safely from Offutt's runway.

The inspection takes approximately an hour-and-a-half to complete and actually includes 3,000 feet of off-base land.

What seemed like a typical night on the job around 11 p.m. on Aug. 16, 2015, became a life-saving operation.

"I was finishing the off-base portion of the nightly lighting check," said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Emily Davis, 55th Operations Support Squadron.  "I had just reported...I was finished with the 30 approach lights, and was observing the airfield's obstruction lights from the road when I noticed a few new red lights that appeared out of place to me. I hadn't noticed them at any time before on prior checks."

It took a minute for her to realize what she was looking at. They were the tail lights of a motor vehicle that had run off the road.

"The car was flipped upside down and was resting very awkwardly inside a large bushel of trees," Davis said.  "I stopped the truck immediately and turned on my four way flashers, and stepped out of the vehicle. Reality sank in at that point and I began to slightly freak out as my mind raced through horrible scenarios. I stared at the car thinking to myself that I was definitely about to find someone dead or seriously injured."

She called another Airman on shift with her.

"She was a little unsure of what to do," said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Justice Grant, 55th OSS. "When she first told me I was a little shocked, but I didn't want to freak her out anymore then she already was. I was able to keep calm and talk her through it. I contacted Offutt fire department first to see if they were able to help, then I contacted Sarpy County."

Aware that it might take a while for the responders to arrive, she knew she had to assess the scene for any passengers in danger. 

"I let my eyes wander around the dark scene in front of me and that is when I noticed the body," Davis said. "[He was] lying in the grass an incredible distance away from the wrecked car. I shouted out from the road as I started to make my way down to the victim. The only response I got was inaudible."

She called Grant again to tell him she had found a victim.

"I think that she was little scared and didn't know what to do," Grant said. "Once she calmed down, she was able to think more about what needed to be done."

Davis approached the man and discovered he was in rough shape.

"[He} was a complete mess; His face was swollen, eyes swollen shut and there was blood all over him, covering his arms, and his clothes were all ripped up," Davis said. "I got down on one knee and asked again if he was okay. He replied with a mumble and I then asked what his name was."

Davis continued to question the man in order to keep him talking and to help gather some details.

"At this point I noticed head lights in the distance and I informed the man that I would be right back and I ran back up to the road and flagged down a truck," Davis said. "A couple was inside and I said, 'there is a car accident sir, and help is on the way but I'm here alone and I'm kind of freaking out, would you mind staying with me?' and the man said, 'yes of course.'"

With their help, she was able to check the car for additional passengers.

"The car was a terrifying scene," Davis said. "It hung in the trees very awkwardly and there appeared to be a whole tree branch puncturing the car's front windshield. When we decided that no one else was with [the man,] we returned back to his side."

Not long after responders arrived and the victim received medical attention.

"The entire situation was incredibly scary," Davis said. "I honestly surprised myself at how calm I was throughout all of it because I've never been a part of something that traumatic in my entire life. I truly believe that had I not been there, and had I not been observing the obstruction lights, than I would have never even noticed the wreck. He was far enough off of the road that a normal passer-by would have never noticed, and it was so late at night."

Other than the vehicle she flagged down, Davis said she did not see any vehicles come down the road the whole time she was at the scene.

"I am so grateful that I was there to find this man," Davis said. "I have no idea how long he had been laying there before I noticed and it really scares me to think about what might have happened to him had I not found him."

Davis's actions were not surprising to U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Michael Morris, 55th Wing command chief.

"This story highlights just another example of the caliber of Airmen we have here in the wing," he said. "Airman Davis's quick-thinking may have saved a man's life and I'm proud to serve with her and many other Airmen just like her."