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Tyndall Airman pulls woman from car crash

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. J. Elaine Hunnicutt
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AETCNS) --  Could you pull an injured stranger from a smoke-filled car with gasoline fumes rising into the air around you?

Second Lt. Shannon Bancroft knows her answer when it comes to rendering aid.

"I have done it before, and it is something I would do again ... it is no big deal," she said.

Lieutenant Bancroft is an adjutant and unit deployment manager for the 2nd Fighter Squadron and is no stranger to this scenario. This is the fourth accident she has come across in her lifetime, and she has risen to the challenge every time.

While traveling home from work Nov. 7 on Highway 231, Lieutenant Bancroft saw a four-car accident at the intersection of County Road 2301. After scanning the scene, she pulled onto the median, jumped out of the vehicle and assessed the situation.

All of the victims were safe and out of the vehicles, except for one woman. This woman was trapped in her smoke-filled car, and the gas tank was ruptured.

"The trunk was in the front seat, and the engine was in the dash(board)," she said. "It was a four-door, but it looked like a two-door car when I got there."

Lieutenant Bancroft immediately established contact with the woman, assessed her injuries and abilities, and calmed her down.

Then the lieutenant assisted the on-scene police officer with getting everyone away from the car in case the gasoline caught fire. She tried to figure out how to extract the woman from the car. The driver-side door was jammed, but Lieutenant Bancroft was able to pry open the passenger-side door.

"I hated to pull her from the car with a possible back injury, but with gasoline pouring over my feet ... I didn't have a choice," said Lieutenant Bancroft.

Once the paramedics arrived, they asked Lieutenant Bancroft to continue assisting the woman while they assessed the other accident victims.

The Cedar Grove police department lauded the lieutenant for her efforts stating that it was a "brave" act pulling someone from a gas and smoke-filled car.

"A lot of times people won't get involved," said Lt. Bern Snell, a Cedar Grove police officer who worked the accident. "We appreciate what she (did); I know the girl (she saved) appreciated it."