Unsung Heroes #320

Staples High School Class of 1992 graduate Tracy Stein Hinson writes:

On Saturday, January 13, I was reminded that heroes live quietly among us.

Our house sits on a dangerous stretch of Wilton Road, at the invisible intersection of three towns: Westport, Wilton and Norwalk. Over 20 years we have responded to numerous accidents, fallen trees, stranded motorists and injured cyclists.

But that day was different.

Two cars collided violently at the corner of Brenner and Wilton Roads. No one saw it happen — or if they did, they didn’t stop. Six people were seriously injured.

The first to drive past was an off-duty emergency room nurse and her young-adult son. Without hesitation they called 911, retrieved medical supplies from their trunk and began assessing injuries.

Across the road, a neighbor heard the crash and came outside to investigate. She alerted her husband, an off-duty firefighter. Grabbing a radio and latex gloves, they too rushed outside to help.

Moments later another neighbor, a junior at Staples High School who is also a volunteer with Westport Emergency Medical Services, was on her way home. Despite being off duty, she donned her fluorescent jacket and calmly joined the harrowing scene.

Accident scene on Wilton Road. (Photo courtesy of Tracey Stein Hinson)

Sirens echoed in the distance. First responders began arriving from Wilton and Norwalk.

We also heard the crash and were surprised to find events unfolding outside our fence. My husband, a former Special Forces team leader, asked for his trauma bags from the house.

Our 12-year-old son ran to get them. I called 911.

Time seemed suspended. The off-duty ER nurse was on the phone and giving direction. Her son was describing events to police. The high school EMT and off-duty firefighter worked with first responders doing triage. The firefighter’s wife translated for several victims in Spanish. My husband knelt next to the youngest victim, repeatedly telling her she was going to be okay.

The ambulances finally arrived.

By the time all 6 people were en route to hospital, it seemed like hours had passed. Clean up efforts began. Shattered glass was swept up; rescue gear was put away; tow trucks were called. The dozens of people who had coalesced around the scene began to disperse.

The “informal” responders — the neighbors and passersby who stopped to help strangers in a moment of crisis- – brought compassion, empathy and humanity to a traumatic situation. Before leaving the scene they stood for a few moments, thanked one another.

Then, commenting on the fragility of life, all unceremoniously returned home.

For those people – the firefighter and his wife, David and Monica McCabe; the off-duty Westport high school EMT, Samantha Henske; the former Special Forces soldier, Ron Hinson, and the ER nurse and her son, in addition to Norwalk and Wilton first responders — we should all feel incredibly thankful.

“06880” honors all who responded. It’s good to know we are surrounded by great Good Samaritans.

(Do you know an Unsung Hero? Email 06880blog@gmail.com. To support this weekly feature — and all the others on “06880” — please click here. Thank you!)

Several drivers passing by had first aid kits in their cars.