After dropping a Soldier off at the Westchester County Airport during the early morning of June 16, two Soldiers came across a head-on collision causing a fire that partially consumed a car.
Racing to evacuate the injured motorists before the flames reached the vehicles, Staff Sgt. Jayrald Tanicala and Pfc. Gabriel Scott instinctively responded using their Army training to prevent further injury.
The Soldiers are currently supporting West Point Cadet Summer Training, and serve as intelligence analysts in Task Force Leader, 1-187 Infantry Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
While driving, Tanicala saw a person holding his chest while standing next to a damaged vehicle and he asked if he needed help.
Although there was a language barrier, Tanicala knew the man was trying to convey that there was no cellphone service in the area.
He realized they were the first to discover the accident and rapidly assessed the situation to park his van in a position to protect the crash site.
He used his cellphone to notify 911 dispatchers. Immediately after hanging up with 911, an off-duty state trooper came upon the site. It was at this time the trooper and Tanicala noticed a fire had broken out in the grass surrounding the vehicles.
Tanicala called for Scott, who immediately jumped into action. Understanding the urgency of the situation as the fire spread, and filled with adrenaline, the Soldiers used their bare hands to pry open the doors of the heavily damaged car.
The trio removed the unconscious driver and moved him away from the fire and provided medical aid until emergency medical technicians arrived.
Scott saw another injured passenger who was unable to move.
“He was right beside the car, and it was on fire,” Scott said. “I reverted to my basic training days. It’s go time; we’ve got to do this.”
After, he fireman-carried the young man to a safe location.
Tanicala credited his Army Combat Lifesaver Course training with teaching him how to remain calm, react and provide care. He ensured the unconscious victim was positioned in such a way to enable airflow and took notes on the frequency of the faint pulse, which he provided to EMTs when they arrived on-site.
“Everyone calls us heroes,” Tanicala said, “I think the emergency responders, and the state troopers are the real heroes because they deal with this every day.”
Capt. Lindsey Hutton, their supervisor and battalion S2 intelligence officer, praised their actions.
“We’re proud of the selfless service and personal courage — they did a really good job,” Hutton said. “They’re a wonderful team on a day-to-day basis and an amazing group of guys.”