February 22, 2010

This is my raw account of what happened on February 22, 2010 around ten in the
morning. With thirty-three years under my belt as a professional rescuer, never I have I
experienced the heroism that I was to witness today. America has some fine citizens and I want
to make sure they are recognized. They are real Citizen Hero’s. They give me, a professional
rescuer, hope. Hope that our future will be that of diversity and team at its finest.
As I entered the entrance ramp to eastbound LBJ, I knew immediately something was
wrong. Brake lights came on and people were slamming on their brakes. I had no choice, but to
slow to a stop. My eyes zoomed in on a minivan that had obviously crossed lanes of traffic,
hurdled the guard rail and was lying on its side up under the bridge. The car was smoking and its
wheels still spinning.
Geez! I have to stop. Lot’s of damage, no doubt severe injuries.
With the proliferation of cell phones, there had to be someone calling 911, so I pulled up
past the accident making room for the incoming fire engine and ambulance. I got out of my car
and ran back as fast as my fifty year old legs would take me.
Not the woman I used to be back in the day.
While running back to the car, I pulled a pair of black leather gloves on from inside my
coat pocket. At least I had a little protection.
Thank God it’s been cool and I have my gloves!
I approached the van at the same time several other people did and we all went to work. I
looked down inside the van and a lady looked up at me with chocolate brown eyes, as big as
saucers. The engine of her van was catching fire.
Only minutes left. God! Help us!
I knew we had to get her out. At six feet tall it was an easy reach over to the leg she had
sticking straight up with her boot caught between the door and the emergency brake. I grabbed
her pant leg, pulled her leg to me and got a grip on the leg, but could not budge the foot inside a
black boot that was pinned. I tugged and tugged and yanked so hard, my arm arched.
If I can just break the heel of her boot!
The fire grew.

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 Two men to my right, one Black, one Hispanic were beating the heck out of the
windshield with a piece of wood they found. Neither of them had any protection. Bear arms and
short sleeves.
Good! We can take her out the windshield, if we can just get this leg loose.
Our patient was curled into a tight ball at the bottom of the passenger side door that was
now facing the pavement. We were working from the driver side window reaching over into the
car.
The fire was now only 3-4 feet away from our heads and growing.
Jesus, Jesus, help us!
I pulled and pulled again at the leg.
Nothing! The leg would not budge.
I yanked so hard that the heel of her boot started to give way, but would not come off.
The fire in the van’s engine grew larger closer to our heads.
God help me! Minutes, maybe seconds away from disaster.
A white man on a motorcycle with red and blue lights showed up. He was not in
uniform. That didn’t matter, his help was all we needed and he went to work.
The white man pulled on the leg a while, then the black man pulled a while. I made a call
to 911. This was going to take a Jaws of Life, or miracle to get her out. I wanted to make sure a
people pinned response was coming.
911 answered. “We are already on the way!”
“Make sure you tell them she is pinned. We need a people pinned response,” I said.
While talking to 911 the young black man hoisted the white man up and onto the side of
the van that was now facing the sky.
The fire grew.
We need water. We need a miracle! Now!
I didn’t hear the sirens yet, so I was now betting on the miracle.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Help us!
I’ve always prayed under my breath when rescuing my citizens, but today it wasn’t under
my breath. It was loud! I was watching the fire grow and I knew we were going to have to pull
back at any moment. I heard somebody next to me praying too.
Thank God a prayer partner showed up in the middle of a horrible situation!

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 Beside me stood a tall black lady with a calm, but concerned demeanor. She said, “I’m a
nurse.”
Good a nurse and somebody else praying!
To my right was a Hispanic man. I heard what I thought was prayer under his breath.
Three of us were praying. I was praying out loud and proud of it.
None of us thought we would be able to free her. The officer kept pulling and we kept
praying.
Oh God! We need a miracle!
The officer tugged again. She finally broke free and slid out of her seat belt, but she was
still down deep in the car. The white man literally strong armed the woman up and the black
man help hoist her free from the car.
Awesome God! Thank you God!
The citizen rescuers moved the lady ten feet and the fire came through the dash. The
nurse took the patient and I kept people back from the fire. An ambulance and fire engine
showed up with some of Dallas Fire Rescue’s finest.
Life and death hanging in the most delicate balance and real American Hero’s made the
difference. I stood there in awe of the people. No protection and no training, just pure
determination and lots of prayer, in order to save a life.

○ The black man was Addissu Andabo.

○ The nurse was Lisa Andrews.
○ The white man (possible police) no name. You have my card. Call me!
○ The Hispanic man I did not get his name.
○ To the many others that did something, however so small, thank you.
If you responded to this incident, please allow me the opportunity to
thank you. Please contact me through Jason Evans at 670.7949.
My most incredible experience as a professional rescuer was not serving the citizens, but
serving with the citizens. They made me proud to be an American, especially one from Dallas,
Texas.

Sherrie C. Wilson