Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton: Marine Corps Recruiter's Heroic Actions

Press release from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton:

Sgt. Sarah Ralph

2021-12-30

FULLERTON, Calif. --

Staff Sgt. Joseph Maldonado, a recruiter with Recruiting Sub-Station Fullerton, Recruiting Station Orange County, was traveling on the highway on his way to work when he happened upon a tragic accident. Blocking the left side of the highway was a three car pile up. Maldonado was fortunate enough to have his windows down when passing by and could hear a gentleman call out for help who was in a red Mercedes laid on its side.

Two bystanders were already assisting an older woman who was injured in the accident when Maldonado pulled over and got out of his vehicle to help the man stuck in his Mercedes.

“When I pulled over in front of the guys car I saw that it would be difficult to get him out since the vehicle was on it’s side. I knew the windshield couldn’t be broken while he was still dangling in the driver's seat,” says Maldonado.

Thinking of the only solution, Maldonado was able to acquire a knife from a bystander and crawled into the vehicle to cut the gentlemen out of his seat belt. During this, Maldonado realized the gentleman was having a seizure and saying things rapidly that were not making sense. Knowing he needed to get the guy on level ground, Maldonado got the man free from the belt and pulled him towards the back of the vehicle so that he could pursue breaking the front windshield for a clean exit.

This press release was produced by Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.