U.S. Airmen aid Japanese motorists after dangerous crash

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Vann Miller
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Two U.S. servicemembers assisted passengers of an auto accident April 27 on a stretch of road returning from Hirosaki Castle, Japan. 

The two Airmen, Master Sgt. Derek Smith and Tech Sgt. Christopher Smith (no relation), are both stationed at Misawa Air Base in northern Japan. 

The driver in the accident veered her car into on-coming traffic and hit a power pole, according to one official. 

"I remember saying to my wife, 'Now, what's this car doing,'" said Sergeant D. Smith, 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels operations superintendent.
According to the first responders, the car the Japanese women were driving signaled its turn before abruptly darting across the wrong lane of traffic. 

Sergeant D. Smith said he and his family were traveling with his coworker, following the other Smith family's car. 

At the sight of the crash, without hesitation, both Smith's cars pulled over to assist. 

"We were moving at about 60 clicks (kph) and immediately the car veered off the road," said Sergeant D. Smith. "We were coming around a curve when the driver signaled. She never once hit her breaks. She (her car) slammed head first into a power pole." 

The three occupants of the crashed car were all female Japanese nationals and appeared to have been trapped by the damage the vehicle sustained in the crash, according to the master sergeant. Upon impact, the driver side airbag deployed and the luggage in the rear of the vehicle jutted forward. 

The impact of the vehicle also lodged the backseat forward and trapped the third passenger in the back of the vehicle. 

"We approached the vehicle and I tapped on the window," the sergeant said. 

Fearing for everyone's safety, the master sergeant looked around for downed electrical lines and did his best to calm the women who had been trapped in the vehicle. Though Sergeant D. Smith had only been here at Misawa for just over a year, he said he learned an important phrase that helped in that situation. He repeated to the women in the car, "Dai Jo Bu!?!" which is roughly translated to, "Are you OK!?!" 

The woman in the front seat responded, but Sergeant D. Smith could tell the third woman in the rear of the vehicle was in pain, and trapped by the collapsed back seat and the pieces of luggage that fell on top of her. 

Noticing the car was safe to touch, the two sergeants committed to freeing the women from the car. Within moments other cars happened upon the scene. Fortunately, there were other servicemembers including associates from the Japan Air Self Defense Force. Each played a role in rendering aid in that situation. While some diverted traffic, others offered aid to the injured women while another called for emergency services. 

After the medical responders arrived, the Misawa Airmen continued on their way home. Fortunately for the three women in the accident, there are Airmen at Misawa who are always willing to do the right thing for the community in which they live, said Sergeant D. Smith.