Gunfighter helps save Mountain Home man's life after accident

Published Sept. 25, 2007
By Senior Airman Brian Stives
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- A Gunfighter's actions helped save the life of a 19-year-old Mountain Home man after he crashed his truck while driving home from a birthday lunch Sept. 1.

Airman 1st Class Jacquelyn Condon, 366th Services Squadron food services, was driving home from Boise when the car next to her drifted to the right side of Interstate 84. The driver, Cody Warburton, overcorrected and rolled his truck four times before it came to a rest on the median.

"I saw him go to the right side of the road," said Airman Condon. "Then the dust started kicking up. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I slammed on my brakes and knew I had to do something to help him."

While Airman Condon may never forget what happened in front of her on I-84, Mr. Warburton doesn't remember much of the accident.

"After Cody was able to talk, he told me he didn't remember the car accident or the ambulance ride home," said Megan Warburton-Drake, Mr. Warburton's sister. "Cody said he remembered being alone on the side of I-84. Cody said that shortly after the truck stopped, a woman was holding his head in her hands and a man was calling for help on a cell phone."

That woman turned out to be Airman Condon. However, she wasn't the only Gunfighter on the scene.

"I was driving to Mountain Home from the Boise Airport when I saw Airman Condon's car on the shoulder of the road and an accident a short distance ahead," said Capt. Adam Vaccarezza, 366th SVS combat support flight commander. "I immediately pulled over to make sure everything was OK.

"As I arrived on the scene, I saw Airman Condon supporting Cody's head and neck while placing direct pressure on his wounds with a rag," said Captain Vaccarezza. "There was a young couple on the phone with 911 and another gentleman assisting Airman Condon by talking to Cody trying to keep him conscious and calm."

Since Airman Condon was the first on scene, she took the lead on the scene and let her military training kick in.

"I went up to the truck and he was hanging out of the left side of the truck," said Airman Condon. "I immediately got him out of the car and began trying to stop the profuse bleeding from his head."

"As the lead on the scene, Airman Condon was awesome," said Captain Vaccarezza. "Under all that pressure, she kept extremely calm and used her self-aid and buddy care training to stabilize Cody until help arrived."

"I began treating his head wound," said Airman Condon. "I also tried to keep him from going into shock by talking to him. I just wanted to get his mind off the fact that his head was split open. Nobody else wanted to talk to him, so I just took it upon myself to talk to him and make sure everybody on the scene knew what needed to be done to help save his life."

As a result of the accident, one of Mr. Warburton's ears was removed to the bone and he underwent three hours of surgery relocating muscles from his jaw to the left side of his head to cover lost tissue. During the next few months, Mr. Warburton is expected to undergo many reconstructive surgeries.

Even though everything may look bleak on the surface for Mr. Warburton and his family, they have gained a greater appreciation for the community around them.

"I want to thank these strangers for keeping my brother in their hands until help arrived," said Mrs. Warburton-Drake. "I could only imagine how scared these passers-by must have felt. It is amazing the courage and strength of these strangers that have become so important to our family."

"I don't feel like a hero, I'm just glad I was able to help save his life," said Airman Condon.

Gunfighter helps save Mountain Home man's life after accident

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