Joint Base Charleston, S.C. -- The routine drive home on I-77 Nov. 16 was quickly replaced by a call to action for four 315th Airlift Wing Airmen who came upon a multiple-car accident.
"I was driving by the scene when I noticed a body on the side of the road and fire coming out of one of the vehicles," said Tech. Sgt. Jesse Heywood, 38th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation craftsman here. "Realizing the seriousness of the situation I pulled off the road, called 911 and requested immediate assistance."
Heywood ran across the highway to the accident scene where he met up with Army Staff Sgt. Raymond Wray who was already administering first aid to one of the accident victims.
According to Heywood, the passenger who was ejected from one of the vehicles suffered massive injures at the scene and there was nothing he or anyone else could do for him. He turned his focus toward survivors and how he could best help them.
"I couldn't believe it when I looked up and saw a man trying to remove items from the car that was on fire," said Heywood. "I ran up to the man who appeared distressed and requested that he get away from the vehicle immediately. It didn't take long before the entire car was engulfed in flames."
Heywood continued to provide assistance to distraught and shaken family members until medical personnel arrived at the scene.
Tech. Sgt. Catherine Desilles and Senior Airman Alison Bowker, 38th APS, were traveling together when they approached the accident and noticed a man walking on the side of the highway in an unsteady manner.
According to Desilles and Bowker, the man looked unstable and they were afraid he was going to stumble into moving traffic. The two Airmen stopped to give assistance to the man and soon realized he was a witness to the accident and was in shock. Desilles and Bowker moved the individual to a safe location and treated him for shock.
After treating the individual for shock, Desilles and Bowker turned their attention toward the body of the ejected passenger and worked to secure the scene and prevent traffic from running over the victim's body.
Tech. Sgt. Mark Kijewski, 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron jet mechanic, was the last 315 AW Airman to arrive at the scene. With no police or emergency service personnel on site, Kijewski stepped into action.
"Traffic was moving slowly, and I set out sulfur flares to redirect traffic around the accident scene," said Kijewski. "After confirming with the other Airmen at the scene that no other victims were in need of assistance, I grabbed a blanket from my car and covered the body of the boy ejected from his vehicle in an effort to shield him from onlookers passing by the scene."
Once medical personnel arrived, all four Airmen gave assistance by staying with the body of the ejected victim in an effort to provide dignity and respect to him pending the arrival of the corner.
According to the S.C. Highway Patrol, Ricky L. Deel, 34, of Beaufort S.C. was charged with felony DUI after troopers say he was responsible for accident.