TYLER KUBOTA
Tank-automotive and Armaments Command
Detroit Arsenal, Michigan

It was about midnight, and my friend, Kirk, and I were traveling along a poorly lit, mostly empty, two-lane freeway. Kirk was driving the speed limit along a curve when we suddenly saw a car stopped perpendicular to the road, completely blocking the left lane. Even though there were no vehicles ahead of us to block our view, the broken-down car had no lights on and seemed to have come out of nowhere. Kirk quickly changed lanes and safely pulled off on the right road shoulder (there was no left shoulder) behind another motorist who had just stopped. As we called 911, the driver of the car parked ahead of us turned on his hazards and jumped out of the car. Kirk quickly followed while I took a few seconds to put on my shoes.

The other motorist crossed the road immediately and ran down the highway to check on the people in the dark car. Kirk ran laterally down the highway toward the broken-down car but didn’t cross to the other side. I got out of the car with a small flashlight I found in the glovebox and noticed the good Samaritan had already reached the disabled vehicle, while Kirk was almost directly across from it. I assessed the situation and realized everybody was in danger of being hit by a speeding driver who couldn’t see what lay ahead. Kirk could be struck by a vehicle swerving to avoid hitting the disabled car; likewise, the good Samaritan could be crushed if another motorist hit the broken-down car.

I yelled for Kirk to return while waving the dim flashlight in a vain attempt at warning oncoming drivers to slow down. Kirk decided against going across the road since the good Samaritan was already checking on the driver. Instead, Kirk began using the flashlight on his phone to also warn approaching vehicles to slow down.

The first vehicle to reach the scene swerved out of the way, but the one behind it did not see the disabled car in time and collided with it. Metal chunks went flying, striking, but not injuring, Kirk. We didn’t hear the incapacitated driver of the disabled car or the good Samaritan scream. The good Samaritan’s passenger, who had stayed at their vehicle on the roadside, had a better view of the collision. Her screams let us know that the accident was bad. Police and ambulances arrived soon after, and Kirk and I left before learning what happened to the good Samaritan or the driver of the disabled vehicle.

While Kirk and I were not injured in this incident, it led me to purchase road flares and a bright flashlight for my vehicle, but that wasn’t the only takeaway. First responders or good Samaritans have good intentions, but they often become victims themselves and hinder the rescue effort. Without proper assessment and safety equipment, no one should rush into any accident scene. Even though it’s our natural reaction to sacrifice careful consideration for time, in the end, the good Samaritan’s choices that night only added to the body count.

FYI

Sometimes, Soldiers and other good Samaritans who stop to render assistance at accident scenes or other roadside emergencies wind up becoming victims of other motorists. Over the past five years, numerous Soldiers have died in mishaps while responding to their own or another motorist’s roadside emergency, including:

• In 2021, two Soldiers were struck and killed on an interstate in Mississippi as they changed a flat tire for another Soldier.
• In 2022, a Soldier in Texas was killed as he attempted to direct traffic around an accident scene on an unlit, curved highway with vehicles traveling at high rates of speed.
• In 2023, a Soldier in Kansas was killed by a civilian vehicle after he stopped on the roadside to assist another Soldier who struck a deer. The other Soldier was injured.
• Also in 2023, a Soldier in South Carolina was pronounced dead at the scene when he was struck on the roadside by another motorist. The Soldier experienced a problem while towing a boat and pulled his vehicle onto the shoulder of the highway. He was reportedly standing next to the boat when struck.
• Again in 2023, a Soldier in North Carolina reportedly parked on the side of the road, exited his vehicle and was struck by oncoming traffic.
• In 2023, a Soldier in Texas was struck by a vehicle after he stopped and dismounted his motorcycle to retrieve an item in the roadway.
• In 2023, a Soldier on a 13-vehicle movement in Oregon was struck by a civilian vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed as he placed warning triangles on the roadway to block traffic during a maintenance halt.
• In 2023, a Soldier died in North Carolina while responding to a vehicle breakdown following a field training exercise. He was working with onsite leadership to position his wrecker for recovery when he was struck by a civilian vehicle.
• More recently, in January, a Soldier was struck and killed by a semi-truck when she exited her vehicle to assess the damage after she hit a roadway median barrier.
• In February, a Soldier in Texas died when she was struck at night by an SUV after pulling off the road when she experienced a flat tire in a construction zone.

You don’t have to stop being a good Samaritan to keep yourself safe, but you must remain situationally aware at all times. If you are involved in a roadside emergency, do not let your focus or frustration distract you from the serious dangers posed by other drivers. Follow these tips to remain as safe as possible:

• Emergency equipment – Ensure the emergency equipment you carry in your vehicle includes warning triangles and a reflective vest, along with a first aid kit, extra water and food, and emergency repair supplies, including tools, a spare tire, duct tape, jack, jumper cables, heavy-duty rope, gloves and canned tire inflator.
• Get off the road – When you first discover an issue with your vehicle, find a safe spot to pull over as far off the road as possible. The most important thing is to get out of the path of traffic.
• Make yourself visible – Turn on your hazard lights and headlights, and once you have pulled over, place reflective emergency triangles to alert oncoming traffic while wearing reflective gear.
• Exit the vehicle carefully – Exit the vehicle from the side farthest from the road and stay as far away from traffic as possible. Do not exit the vehicle if it is not safe to do so — remain inside with your seat belt on and call 911 for assistance.
• Traffic warning triangles – Place a minimum of one warning triangle, but preferably three, to improve visibility. Place the first triangle 10 feet behind your vehicle on the side closest to the road. Place a second warning triangle 100 feet directly behind your vehicle. Place a third triangle 300 feet behind your vehicle on the side farthest from the road.
• Limit your exposure – Know when to call a professional. If the required repair is beyond your capabilities or will expose you to heavy traffic, return to your vehicle, buckle up and call for assistance.

For additional information, check out the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center’s emergency roadside assistance brochure. Click here to download your copy.