May Chongwiboon – LRHS News

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – LRHS JROTC teacher Sergeant William Cassidy helped rescue the victim of a car accident the night of Jan. 10.

Cassidy and Booker High School JROTC teacher Col. Ben Weiss were coming back from a meeting in Tampa. Once they got off of I-275, and onto I-75, they saw a debris field to the right. Cassidy spotted something about 50 yards away from the debris field.

Cassidy said at first he couldn’t tell what the derby was. It turned out to be a work van filled with tools. He could tell that the van rolled, because of the numerous tools that were laying around the debris field.

Weiss had a first aid kit on hand, so both men put on gloves and approached the car. That’s when they saw a man waving his arms. They proceeded to call the police. Within two minutes the highway patrol arrived, and fire department arrived about three minutes later.

Two men on the scene had minor injuries and were able to move around and talk. A third man was in the driver’s seat, and was unable to communicate. He suffered an eight inch gash to the back of his head, broken ribs, and he couldn’t feel his legs.

The two men who were able to talk said they were asleep when the van rolled. The driver apparently also fell asleep, causing the accident.

Cassidy was able to stay calm during the incident due to the fact that he knows first aid, and has a military background. “All three men had their seat belts on, and that’s what saved their lives,” said Cassidy. “If they didn’t have them on they would’ve been shot out of the car.”

Captain Rod Griffin of the North River Fire District said Cassidy’s help was key to the rescue.

“In an emergence situation earl intervention is a key component to a positive outcome. [Cassidy’s] willingness to help and [his] selflessness, coupled with [his] obvious training led to a favorable outcome.”