Temecula Good Samaritan, Nurse, Killed Helping Another After I-15 Crash

TEMECULA, CA — A nurse from Temecula and a big rig truck driver from Fallbrook were helping an injured crash victim on I-15 one week ago when they were struck and killed just north of state Route 76, California Highway Patrol reports.

Nereida "Nedi" Benitez, a nurse at Sharp Memorial Hospital, exited her vehicle and went to help the driver of a Honda CR-V that had collided with another vehicle, according to CHP.

As they assisted the CR-V driver, another vehicle, a Honda Civic, struck the passenger side of the CR-V, and that impact led to both Benitez's death and the death of Gary "Chad" Tillman, 54, of Fallbrook, who was also helping at the time of the deadly crash.

She leaves behind her husband, Marine Emilio Hernandez, and her son. "I am sad, I'm angry, but knowing that her last act was something that she loved doing," her husband told CBS8 reporters.

It was in her nature to help others, according to Joshua McCabe, director of emergency services at Sharp Memorial Hospital.

"The entire team at Sharp HealthCare is heartbroken by this tragedy,” McCabe said in a released statement. “Nedi was a compassionate and dedicated nurse whose commitment to caring for others left a lasting impact on her colleagues, patients, and the community. She will be deeply missed by all who had the honor of knowing her and the privilege of working beside her.”

Read more about Hernandez and Tillman in the Union Tribune.