Aviano Airmen save two lives, recount car crash

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Austin Harvill
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs --  “Tiny shards from the windshield covered his face—he was bleeding all over, but he was alive,” said Senior Airman Jeff Oberschlake.

That was the sight that greeted Oberschlake and Senior Airman Robert Johnson, 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicular equipment maintenance journeymen, July 9, 2016, when they went for a drive near Santuario Diocesano Madonna del Monte, commonly known as the “Chrome Dome.”

Moments before the Airmen arrived, a sedan crashed through the parking lot fence, fell approximately 30 feet, flipped and crashed upside down on its roof.

The two friends had finished a hike nearby when Jessica Reed, who was visiting the Chrome Dome with her family, flagged them down.

“My mother started screaming because she saw a car going through the fence over a small cliff,” said Reed. “While my brother called 911, I waved down an oncoming jeep so they could help if possible.”

Johnson stopped his jeep to see what happened. He and Oberschlake weren’t prepared for what came next.

“We thought they maybe had some car trouble,” explained Johnson. “When we saw the car about 30 feet down on its roof in a ditch, my heart started racing.”

Immediately, Oberschlake scrambled down the cliff and Johnson hopped back in the jeep and drove closer to the accident.

“The first thing I noticed was a foot sticking out of the windshield, and I thought the worst,” said Oberschlake. “I looked for another passenger and saw someone crunched into the backseat—somehow the driver and passenger were alive. I let the man calling the authorities know we had two people in the car, then I started tugging on the driver-side door.”

While trying to open the door, Oberschlake and Johnson realized there was another problem.

“Obi (Oberschlake) stopped tugging at the door, told me it wasn’t working, then we both stopped for a second,” said Johnson. “We smelled gas and I think that’s when I really realized how dangerous this could be, especially if the battery was near the leak. These two guys really needed our help, and fast.”

Johnson tried to break a side window, but again the two Airmen were faced with defeat.

“The driver’s face was already covered with glass from the windshield, and he was too close to the side window for me to break it with my tire iron,” said Johnson. “I told Obi it wasn’t going to work, and he started digging at one of the back passenger doors.”

While Oberschlake dug into the rocky soil with his bare hands, Johnson tried to keep the driver’s attention.

“The driver was completely out of it—eyes glazed over and everything. His passenger was definitely nowhere near his original seat,” said Johnson. “I couldn’t speak Italian, so I had no idea if they were hurt. I was certain their necks were at least broken. I didn’t know what we would do even if we had the door open.”

Moments later, Oberschlake pulled the door free.

“Once I pulled the door open, the passenger scrambled out, right past me,” said Oberschlake. “All I could think then was, ‘How is he doing that,’ but then I grabbed and turned him up the road toward the family.”

Johnson, equally surprised as the driver exited seemingly unharmed, immediately guided him away from the crash and offered to pour water over the man’s face to wash away the glass.

“Almost all of the glass fell off immediately and there were no large puncture wounds or gashes,” said Johnson. “His eyelids were the worst, but he was able to remove all of the shards with an alcohol wipe.”

With both victims out of harm’s way, the Airmen walked the driver to the parking lot where the car had gone over.

“We continued to give them water and wipes until we heard the ambulance,” said Oberschlake. “Since we didn’t see what happened originally, we decided to leave. The family who was calling saw everything and spoke Italian, so we figured we would just be in the way.”

Once the ambulance arrived and the situation was under control, Reed stayed with the victims.

“The paramedics didn’t have to take the two victims to the hospital,” said Reed. “It was a miracle all around.”

Having discovered the identity of the two nameless Airmen, Reed shared her thanks.

“They should be proud of what they did,” said Reed. “My family wouldn’t have been able to help like they did. I truly hope they are recognized for their bravery.”

Johnson and Oberschlake believe they did what any Airmen would do in that situation.

“There were two people who needed help, and Obi and I could help them,” said Johnson. “I know plenty of Airmen who would have done the same thing. We were just happy to help.”