Firefighter Comforts Little Girl After Crash, Goes Viral

(Screenshot / ABC 10)

A firefighter is being called a hero after comforting a little girl after a car crash in California while her sister and mother were being treated for their injuries.

A mother along with her two young daughters and another adult family member were involved in the crash in San Diego. A big rig had crossed into oncoming traffic, leading to the crash, NBC San Diego reported.

Video footage showed Heartland Fire & Rescue Department firefighter paramedic Ryan Lopez holding the 4-year-old girl as he carried her away from the wreckage, according to the report.

Lopez, who was wearing firefighter gear, could be seen holding the girl and rocking her. He then carried the girl over to the fire engine and put her down to give her a drink of water.

Lopez told the NBC affiliate that he’s just learning to be a dad to a 2-month-old daughter of his own. “She really just wanted to hang on and just feel safe,” he said.

“It’s not something I would ever seek out to take any recognition for,” he said. “I know someone else in my same position would’ve done the same thing.”

He said what he did is routine and part of his job.

“Keeping her distracted was my ultimate goal and making her feel safe,” Lopez told Fox5.

“I think her expression of gratitude and the look on her face that she felt safe – I could tell it was better with me holding her and keeping her close to me so I could talk to her while we waited for the ambulance to transport her up to the hospital.”

The truck collided with a Chevy, killing two, and they were identified as Nancy Bauerlein, 57, of Santee and her daughter, Jennifer Thompson-Campbell, 29.

Then, big rig hit a family inside a black Kia Sorrento. Two adults and two little girls, ages 4 and 6, were involved in the crash. The 6-year-old suffered a broken neck and was taken Rady Children’s Hospital. The 4-year-old with Lopez suffered minor injuries, NBC reported.

“I have a little girl at home. She’s 2 months old. So I would want to treat any patient and any family member the same way that I would want my family member treated in that situation,” Lopez told the Fox affiliate. “I feel that any first responder would have done something similar because of the empathy and compassion we have for times like this.”

Traffic Deaths Down Across US in 2018

U.S. traffic deaths fell 3.1 percent in the first six months of 2018, according to preliminary figures released in October 2018, Reuters reported.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that 2017 traffic deaths fell by 1.8 percent to 37,133 after traffic deaths rose sharply in the previous two years, according to final figures.

The U.S. traffic fatality rate fell to 1.08 deaths per 100 million miles traveled for the first half of 2018.

The fatality rate in 2017 was 1.16 million deaths per 100 million miles traveled—the second highest rate since 2008.

“This is good news and bad news,” said Deborah Hersman, CEO of the National Safety Council, CNBC reported. “The total number of fatalities is not getting worse, but the situation is not getting better.”

“Dangerous actions such as speeding, distracted driving, and driving under the influence are still putting many Americans, their families and those they share the road with at risk,” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Deputy Administrator Heidi King said in a statement.

“Additionally, we must address the emerging trend of drug-impaired driving to ensure we are reducing traffic fatalities and keeping our roadways safe for the traveling public.”