Pittsburgh Airman helps at car accident, prevents certain disaster

by Jacob Morgan
911th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

1/6/2015 - PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, Pa. -- An Airman here helped prevent certain disaster when he assisted accident victims on a snow-covered interstate highway Jan. 6.

Senior Master Sgt. Bruce Zimmerman, 911th Security Forces Squadron operations superintendent, was driving to work for the early shift when a couple of miles in front of him, a tractor-trailer driver lost control of his rig and collided with a car.

Zimmerman, a 26-year security force's veteran, initially saw the tractor-trailer on the side of the road. As he slowed down to pass, he saw a car tucked underneath the rear wheels of the tractor-trailer.

While many other drivers continue to pass, without a second thought, he jumped out of his car to see if everyone was alright, thinking it must be ok if everyone keeps passing.

"As I approached the car, I could see the driver of the tractor-trailer talking to a man inside the car," said Zimmerman. "The driver was stuck; part of his dash and steering wheel had caved in on his legs. The driver was alert and conscious."

Zimmerman and the driver of the tractor-trailer tore away debris to pull the trapped man out of the car. The driver of the car, who identified himself as "John," had a small gash on his leg from the collision.

The car was still running and there was a smell of gasoline in the air but neither of the men were unable to reach the ignition switch. Less than two minutes later, the car was fully engulfed in flames, stopping traffic on I-79 for hours.

"We counted as the tires began to pop from the heat," said Zimmerman. "John was ok, he seemed a little in shock, but we had normal conversations... we even talked about the Steelers."

Emergency services were stuck behind the traffic on the road and didn't arrive for a few minutes. Zimmerman helped keep pressure on John's wound until medical help arrived.

Zimmerman, who received admiration from some and jabbing from others for 'being famous,' said, "I don't consider myself a hero, maybe a good-Samaritan. Yea, I guess I am ok with that. I can't believe I was the only one who stopped. It was just the right thing to do."