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ALSO
IN THIS ISSUE Beyond Books Designer's Challenge Improving Mother Nature Bach to the Future Chancellor's
Page Development News Factoids More Factoids Accidental Heroes Newsmakers |
Accidental Heroes Remarkably, the passenger car was not struck by the heavy Highway 163 southbound early morning traffic as it suddenly crossed four or five lanes toward the chainlink fence that separated the freeway from Fashion Valley Shopping Center. Instantly, District Service Center HVAC maintenance worker Alfonso Ortega let up on the gas pedal as the doomed motorist and his vehicle crossed directly in front of the district van that Ortega was driving in the far right lane. Ortega, who works daily at Mesa College, and fellow HVAC maintenance worker Jose Lopez, riding shotgun, watched in horror as the passenger car careened up the embankment and crashed through the chainlink fence near the back of The Container Store. Quickly, Ortega pulled off the freeway and called 911 on his cell phone. At the same time, Lopez jumped out of the van and slogged up the heavy ice plant embankment to the crash site. The driver's side door was blocked by heavy bushes, so Lopez squeezed into the car from the passenger side and immediately turned off the engine. "I checked his pulse and saw that he was breathing," he recalled. A Highway Patrol officer responded quickly to the scene. Together, the three men carried the victim, described as a very large man, from his vehicle to a flat area behind The Container Store. Paramedics and mall security arrived. Despite attempts by paramedics to revive the accident victim, he died at the scene, according to reports. Apparently, the man passed out at the wheel and died of natural causes. "I never saw anyone die in front of me before this," Lopez noted. "I guess I grew up that day. I focus more on my family and appreciate each day more." Ortega echoed these sentiments. "You never think something like this is going to happen to you. That you may never see your wife and kids again." In November –– almost 14 months after the incident –– they each were surprised to receive a San Diego Fire Department Fire and Life Safety Services Award. San Diego Fire Chief Jeff Bowman cited their "exemplary actions…You pulled a victim of a serious traffic accident from the vehicle and carried him to a secure area so assistance could be administered. Due to your efforts you gave the victim the best odds to survive.” Caring about the other guy is a way of life for the seven Ortega brothers and three sisters. “We were brought up by our parents to care about people and get involved,” says Juan Ortega, Alfonso’s brother and Mesa College telecommunications technician. In fact, this was not the first time that Ortega has helped people in crisis. "I used to work downtown as a supervisor of parking lots, and I got involved with a lot of stuff." Once, he intervened on behalf of a woman who was being assaulted. During another incident, Ortega said he made a citizen's arrest. For Lopez, this was the first time he had the opportunity to assist in an emergency situation and put his Air Force and CPR-instructor training into use.
Alfonso Ortega, left, and Jose Lopez |
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