Heroes come in a variety of forms and sizes. That is crucial to remember in this day and age, when bigotry is rampant and one look at the news headlines is sufficient to convince you that the world is in an irreversible downward spiral of misery.
The truth is that where there is evil, there is also virtue, and where there is despicable brutality, there is also heroism.
One family understands this better than most, when their two teenage boys intervened to rescue the driver of a truck involved in a catastrophic incident during the Easter weekend.
Melissa Heck was driving her teenage kids down Route 9 in Nelson, New Hampshire in the early hours of April 15, according to reports. They were on their way to see family in New Jersey and Maryland, yet they had no idea what was in store for them.
Melissa told the Sentinel Source that she initially noticed sparks flying from the undercarriage of a truck in the oncoming lane. The truck then abruptly swerved and crashed against the road’s rock wall.
To complicate things worse, the debris started to billow smoke, trapping the truck’s driver. After their two children, one family understands this better than most.
Melissa’s 19-year-old son, Vincent, immediately called at her to pull over. He and his younger 16-year-old brother, Jake, hurried over to the truck from the safety of their car.
He quickly ordered his mother to pull over, and before she even got out of the car, he jumped out and raced over, Vincent recounted.
Melissa dialled 911 while her sons raced to help the truck driver. Nevertheless, Vincent discovered the driver was unconscious and smashed the driver’s door off the truck, pulling the guy from the wreckage while Jake examined the vehicle for more passengers.
Vincent and Jake administered CPR on the driver and treated his injuries after pulling him away from the burning truck.
The truck actually blew up in flames about 10 seconds after he dragged him out, Vincent stated.
His primary concern was simply making sure he was OK, Jake stated. He couldn’t think of anything else.
Jeffrey Voss, 50, was eventually identified as the truck’s driver. He was transferred to the Cheshire Medical Center, where his wounds were determined to be non-life threatening and he recovered completely.
Voss had fallen asleep behind the wheel and did not seem to be wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision, according to officials.
Nelson Fire Chief Joseph Sarcione said, by the time he got there, the truck was totally consumed, and if that person was still in there, that guy would never have survived the accident.
Captain Chris Staples of the Keene Fire Department agreed that Voss would have perished “hands down” if not for the heroic acts of brothers Vincent and Jake.
The truth that these folks halted and volunteered to help, plainly placing their lives in danger to do so it’s very significant, said Staples.
Jake described his brother as a true hero in an interview.
He did all he could, Jake explained.
Delayed ~ The Keene Sentinel ~ Follow Up NELSON — A man who was rescued from his pickup truck by two teenagers after…
Posted by Michael C Rocheleau on Monday, 18 April 2022
He would not have lived if it hadn’t been for his brother rescuing him out of that automobile. He was too slow to get to the person.
Vincent, on the other hand, downplayed his activities, arguing that he did nothing more than anybody else in his situation would.
He just thought he was doing what any regular person would do, Vincent explained. All he wants is for someone to do the same for him.
Mommy is overjoyed. Melissa, on the other hand, was glowing about her sons.
She was simply so proud of her kids for being able to achieve it, she explained.
To collaborate, and they rose to the occasion.
Wow! Vincent and Jake were fortunate to be precisely where they were required to be at the moment of the disaster. I’m sure Jeffrey Voss and his loved ones are overjoyed.
