APS Airman pulls local woman from burning car

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Leah Young
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  The night before Halloween is often referred to as 'Devil's Night.' This term dates back to the 1940s and is associated with acts of petty vandalism and reckless behavior.

Keeping the reputation of 'Devil's Night' in mind, Staff Sgt. Landon Jensen, 62nd Aerial Port Squadron ramp services supervisor, reminded himself to stay safe while throwing a leg over his motorcycle and beginning his routine Saturday night commute home after work.

While at a stoplight in Spanaway, Jensen was cut off by a woman in the car next to him. After further observation, he realized the woman was driving erratically and kept his distance from her.

"She was swerving all over the place," he said. "At one point, she sped up and out of sight. I was still doing the speed limit. It was really dark, but I could see when she swerved into oncoming traffic."

According to Jensen, the woman hit another car's back tire which spun the car around the opposite direction. She veered off into oncoming traffic and hit another car head on. Jensen couldn't believe what he was seeing, but he knew he had to act.

"I didn't even think, I just moved," said Jensen. "I pulled over, jumped off my bike and sprinted to her car. It was on fire when I got there."

With his motorcycle safety gear still on, Jensen attempted to open the driver's side door with no luck. He and a man who had also bolted to the scene tried the passenger side door, successfully reaching the woman.

"We kept yelling for her to give us her arm and get out, but she had no idea what was going on," said Jensen. "I could see the flames getting higher and I told the guy who was helping me to get back. I had all my motorcycle gear on, if something did happen, it would've hurt but it wouldn't have affected me as badly as it would him."

Jensen and the unidentified man pulled the woman from the burning car and helped her to the side of the road. A thought suddenly popped into Jensen's head and he rushed back to the blazing car.

"When we opened the passenger door to help the woman out, I noticed a baby carrier with toys and other things," he said. "So after we took her to safety, I ran back because I figured there had to be a baby in there. Someone threw me a flashlight and I looked but thankfully didn't find anything."

Jensen ensured the woman's car was evacuated, and then headed toward the other car involved in the crash.

"The two people in the other car had already gotten out," said Jensen. "I asked if everyone was okay and if anyone needed help. They complained of minor injuries and I checked them out. Right after that, I could hear the ambulances."

After giving a statement and briefing the paramedics on the victim's injuries, Jensen was able to take a moment to breathe and reflect.

"I didn't think, I just acted," he said. "When it was all done with and I calmed down, I remember thinking- Wow that just happened."

Jensen's coworkers couldn't be more proud of his heroic actions.

"He's definitely a hero," said Tech. Sgt. Robert Hartzell, 62nd APS shift supervisor. "Given the chance, he'd probably do the same thing over again. He's a very reliable person. Give him a task and you know he'll get it done."

While he's flattered, Jensen doesn't think of himself as a hero.

"I think heroes are people who do heroic things throughout their whole lives," said Jensen. "People in the war zone who jump on grenades to save a group of people are heroes. But for me, it just so happened I drove past the incident. You might say it was heroic, I guess. But I don't really think of it like that."

While leaving the scene of the crash, Jensen once again reminded himself to drive safely, knowing this would be a Devil's Night he would never forget.