Airman comes to aid of hit-and-run victim

Published Oct. 26, 2009
By Monica Mendoza
21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- It was after midnight and chilly Oct. 17, when two military personnel driving home saw what looked like a blanket in the middle of the intersection at Academy Boulevard and Chelton Road in south Colorado Springs.

They could have kept going. But, something didn't seem right, so they stopped.

In the middle of the road, Tech. Sgt. Rodney Reed and Sgt. 1st Class Travion Smith found a teen-aged boy who had been struck by a vehicle and left in the busy intersection. He was bloody, his face was starting to swell and he was at risk of being hit again by oncoming traffic.

Sergeant Reed, 21st Space Wing Equal Opportunity Office, called 911 and directed an oncoming car to set up a blockade while Sergeant Smith, stationed at Fort Carson, grabbed a blanket and covered the young man, who was alive and shivering. Within minutes emergency response units arrived and the victim, 18-year-old Jeremy Russeau of Colorado Springs, was taken to a nearby hospital.

"If it were not for these two men in uniform, our son would have died at the scene by other vehicles running him over," said Randolph Brown, Jeremy's father.

Jeremy does not remember what happened that night. He said he saw lights and then things went blank. He had a chance to meet Sergeants Reed and Smith at the hospital.

"He had a lot of questions for us," said Sergeant Reed, 21st SW Equal Opportunity noncommissioned officer in charge. "I can't imagine not having stopped. It was a matter of timing. I think anyone would have stopped. I do believe we did save his life."

Jeremy is slowly recovering, Mr. Brown said. Doctors are still trying to determine whether he will need skin grafts on his shoulder.

"He will need therapy for his neck and back," Mr. Brown said. "He's in good spirits."

The woman who hit Jeremy turned herself into authorities about 30 minutes after the incident, Mr. Brown said. She was arrested and has been charged with vehicular assault.

Airman aids hit-and-run victim