Penny D. Miller
Kansas State Dept. of Eduation
Topeka, Kansas

The accident at Lake Sherwood was in our backyard. An SUV had gone off the road, down a hill, and collided with a tree. When we heard the wreck, I remembered to say "call 911". My family was the first on the scene. Nick, my son, was on the cell phone with 911. He saw a friend who was a victim in the crash who was a 15-year-old girl who was badly disfigured and had died instantly. It was a terrible scene.

There had been six people in the truck, all between 15 and 17 years old. My husband and I checked all the victims, and I picked one who was conscious and stayed with him. I talked with him and had him lay on the ground. When I asked him if he was hurt, he said he was sore all over. When help arrived, they asked me to stay and continue working with them. I did as Debbie Romine, my instructor, said in class, and did what they wanted. They even said thank you before they left.

The sheriff deputies came by Saturday night to get our statements and play the 911 tape back so Nick could identify all the voices in the background. They said over and over that the way he handled the call was the best they had heard in a long time. He was calm and worked with them even when he saw his friend who had died. The Sheriff's Department is sending some people over to help us work through our emotions.

The first aid and CPR course I took in January really helped me. I just didn't expect to put it to good use so soon.

Penny D. Miller
Kansas State Dept of Education, Topeka