Tolles students assist at semi crash
Several Tolles Career and Technical Center students put their training into action when they stopped to help a semi-truck driver injured in a crash this week.
At about 11:45 a.m., Tuesday, at the exit from I-70 onto Route 142 in Madison County, Firefighter/EMS Level 2 students Seth French and Dylan Shields, senior EMT student Logan Faulkner and Criminal Justice Level 2 student Luke Self were on their way to school when they came upon the wreck.
Seeing that no emergency crews had arrived yet, they immediately pulled over to render aid.
The students learned from bystanders that 911 had been called and that the driver had been seriously injured. Sprinting to the truck, they found the driver still inside the cab with a large facial laceration. While Self retrieved his lifeguarding pack from his car, the other students remained with the driver, keeping him calm and supported.
“I hopped out and the people asked me if I knew CPR, someone was hurt real bad,” Shields said.
“So I jumped over the railing, slid down the berm, and went to help. It was really eye-opening—it was the first real experience.”
When Jefferson Township Fire Department personnel arrived, French and Shields provided a clear account of the accident and the driver’s condition. Once issued protective gloves, the students continued to help, assisting with moving the driver onto a backboard, loading him into the medic vehicle, and gathering equipment for cleanup.
After the incident, a Jefferson Township firefighter contacted Tolles Instructor Scott Hockenbery to commend the students’ professionalism, accurate assessment and willingness to step in. He praised their response as a “dang fine job” that made a meaningful difference in the emergency.
French added: “I was able to see that this was what I really want to do.”
Tolles commends these students for their composure, teamwork, and service during a real-world emergency. Their actions highlight both their training and their commitment to helping others when it matters most.
