News

Serious accident brings out heroism

  • Published
  • By Capt. Jennifer Gerhardt
  • 446th Airlift Wing
It was of the year's worst head-on auto accidents along Washington's State Route 101 between Sequim and Port Angeles July 3. It was also one of the year's best displays of heroism.
Twelve people stopped to help the victims. One of those heroes was Tech. Sgt. Phillip (Don) White, a Reservist with the 446th Airlift Wing here.
Sergeant White was with his family when a Ford Explorer carrying a family of four crossed the center line of the road and hit a Toyota 4Runner carrying another family of four.
"There was no thinking involved, it was just instantaneous - kids, burning car, get them out," said Sergeant White, recalling how he rushed to the Ford Explorer, broke one of the windows with a rock, and pulled the two girls from the backseat before it exploded. ``It's just something I had to do."
After Sergeant White handed the girls to a bystander, he returned to help the father, who was semi-conscious and trying to bat away the flames, when the car exploded.
"I tried to help the father too, but the flames were too much by then," said Sergeant White. "I wish I could have helped the man, but I knew I couldn't or we both would have died."
The girls' mother, who was driving the Explorer, was thrown from the vehicle and pulled out of the vicinity of the flames by other witnesses.
After the first car exploded, Sergeant White turned his efforts to victims in the other vehicle.
"I went to the other vehicle and broke the glass out and pulled the little boy out," said Sergeant White. "By the time I went to help the mom in the vehicle, the fire department showed up and began helping."
Unbeknownst to Sergeant White, while he was helping the victims in the second vehicle, his wife was helping the children he pulled out of the first car.
"I didn't know it at the time, but my wife was taking care of the two kids I had pulled out of the first car," said Sergeant White. "My daughter was also helping out (by) getting blankets and my other daughter gave up her toys to the kids to comfort them."
Sergeant White also didn't know his wife had left with the children in the ambulance. When he went to pick her up, she found out he was the one who had pulled the children from the vehicle.
"She was pretty amazed," said Sergeant White. "She was like, ‘You did that?'"
The local fire department regards the 12 rescuers as heroes.
"Their actions are above and beyond what most people will do in this day and age," said Assistant Chief Ben Andrews of the Clallam County Fire District No. 3. "Most people don't want to take the risk."
Sergeant Whites actions, however, were in line with the character he shows on duty.
"I was not surprise to hear about Sergeant White's actions.," said Col. Jon Huguley, 446th Maintenance Group commander. "He has always demonstrated the poised and determined mind set necessary to take such action. I'm very proud of him." Although he's been labeled a hero, Sergeant White down plays that idea.
"I did what anyone else would have done, and I would do it all over again today," said Sergeant White. "I wasn't shocked by the situation; but I just knew I needed to help."