Detroit Good Samaritans Critically Injured Helping Others

DETROIT, MI — Two Good Samaritans — a doctor from Henry Ford Hospital and a University of Detroit Jesuit High School student — were in critical condition Monday after they were struck by a suspected drunk driver while assisting six teenagers who were were trapped in a Jeep that had rolled over. The second accident occurred around 7:50 a.m. Sunday on Interstate 696 in Detroit, police said.

The student, Sean English, 17, was on his way to Mass with his parents, and Dr. Cynthia Ray, 47, was on her way to her shift at Henry Ford Hospital when they stopped to help the teenager, according to media reports A vehicle rounded the curve near the Davison freeway, spun out of control and struck Ray and English, police said.

The driver of the vehicle that hit them is also in critical condition, police said. Authorities think alcohol was a factor in the second crash and are awaiting toxicology reports and an accident scene reconstruction.

Ray underwent emergency neurosurgery at Sinai Grace Hospital and was said to be fighting for her life Monday evening. A Michigan State Police trooper who responded to the accident scene applied a tourniquet to English’s leg. He is credited with saving the teen’his life, but English, an athlete on his high school’s track team, still lost his foot to amputation.

Jesuit High School Principal Anthony Trudel told the Detroit Free Press that English handled the news like a champion.

“Just to give a testament of this kid and his strength and who he is as a person; his first comment to the (Coach Carl Brock) was, ‘Well, coach I won’t be making track practice today after school,’ ” Trudel said.

English is “just a great kid” who is selfless and thinks of others, Trudel told The Detroit News. “This is a kid you can go to for anything and he'll be there.”

Henry Ford Hospital released a statement supporting Ray and her family:

“We were so saddened to hear the news about Dr. Cynthia Ray. Ray has been with the Henry Ford family since 2005 and is widely known as a stellar physician and kind, compassionate colleague. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Ray’s family and the entire Henry Ford pulmonary team.”

Ray and English were among several people who stopped to assist after the Jeep rollover accident. Police said the driver rounded the curve too fast and lost control.

“The Jeep flipped several times and came to rest in the left travel lane,” Michigan State Police First Lt. Denise Powell told the Free Press. “Several motorists stopped to help, which was a doctor and a mother, father and son. They were out trying to help these six occupants. In the meantime another car comes around the curve, isn’t able to stop, loses control and goes into a spin and strikes the pedestrians out helping the drivers of the first car.’’

Photos via University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Henry Ford Hospital