Sometimes running errands has unexpected results.
Four Taylor ROTC cadets experienced this on Sept. 19, 2024. Due to their service at the scene of a vehicular collision in Gas City, the cadets are in the running for a service medal, Scott Oleson, the Taylor University ROTC liaison, said.
After attending a leadership lab for the Army Reserves at the local armory, four ROTC cadets – Andrew Ryan, Kale Brown, Benjamin Miller and Andrew VanHuis – drove to the Walnut Creek Outdoors store, now owned by Exit Church, in Gas City.
The crew was hoping to purchase some shooting gloves when they pulled into the parking lot around noon, Andrew VanHuis, sophomore intercultural studies major, said.
As they hopped out of the car, the four Taylor students heard a collision.
The cadets rushed to the scene. A sedan driven by an elderly woman had cut off a male motorcyclist in front of the McDonald’s off East Main Street, Miller, sophomore communication major, said. In the collision, the man – likely in his 50s or 60s – had tumbled off his motorcycle and smacked his head on the pavement, Miller explained.
The cadets leapt into action. The driver of a truck traveling behind the motorcyclist had seen the accident and already called 911, so the cadets focused on assisting the victims before emergency services arrived.
Ryan and Miller provided first aid to the motorcyclist, Miller explained.
“Thankfully, the people in the truck…had some rubber gloves that we put on because there was a good bit of blood,” Miller said. “And we used a sweatshirt…like a makeshift dressing for his head injury. So we kind of slid that underneath. And I'm a lifeguard, so I stabilized his head to make sure he didn't move his spine.”
Miller learned first aid skills during his time as a lifeguard at a YMCA where he received weekly training, he said.
Ryan held the man’s head together while Miller attempted to keep the man from passing out by asking him questions, VanHuis said. VanHuis also removed debris from the motorcyclist and off the road.
Meanwhile, Brown and VanHuis focused on the woman driving the car.
“(We were) talking to her, and she was just super scared,” VanHuis said. “She didn't know what was happening. So (we were) trying to calm her down (and) let her know everything was gonna be (all) right, (that) the guy was gonna survive.”
It took less than 15 minutes for emergency services to arrive, according to Miller. The first responders took over immediately, placing the man on the stretcher and rushing him to the hospital while police officers questioned the driver of the car.
After asking if law enforcement required a statement from them, the cadets went on their way, Miller said.
“We walked away and went to class,” VanHuis said. “I was like 10 minutes late to my next class, so it was (an) interesting way to get into class.”
VanHuis had not experienced such an urgent, “near death” situation before. However, his ability to tolerate blood and his ROTC training helped him handle the situation, he said.
“We were like, ‘All right, let's just take control (of) the situation,” VanHuis said. “So it was very composed. And, surprisingly, we just stepped up to it and just moved into action.”
Oleson felt no surprise at the cadets’ ability to enter the situation with calmness and confidence, he said. Taylor’s company, Charlie Company, is the highest-performing company in their battalion.
“It was great to know that they stepped up,” Oleson said. “They took pride in who they are as Taylor ROTC cadets and just took control of the situation.”
Though both VanHuis and Miller expressed excitement at the prospect of receiving a service medal, neither said they approached the situation with that outcome in mind.
For Miller, the cadets’ response had one motive.
“We were just doing the right thing,” he said.
