Instructor pilot saves driver's life Published Oct. 23, 2012 By Airman 1st Class Nathan Maysonet 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Driving on Highway 90, an instructor pilot with the 85th Flying Training Squadron found himself in the right place at the right time to save a life Oct. 2. Capt. Ben Sims, an instructor pilot with the 85th FTS, witnessed what seemed to be a vehicle chase that moved off road but on a second look proved to be a devastating vehicle crash. "At a distance all I saw was a large cloud of dirt kicked into the air and at first thought it was Border Patrol chasing someone down," said Sims. "As I got closer I realized what had happened, it was a pretty aggressive crash." On an empty stretch of road over a dry river bed west of Brackettville, Sims chanced upon the accident while coming off leave. Kicking up a screen of dirt as it left the road, Sims saw the truck skim the bridge's guard rail before hitting a sign and disappearing from sight as it fell to the bottom of the bridge. "As I pulled off the road to check on the scene my flight-or-fight mechanism kicked in as I thought this was either really bad or nothing at all," Sims said. The truck had flipped several times before finally coming to rest right-side-up with glass littering the area as Sims ran up to the car to check on the driver, he explained. "As I approached I kept preparing myself for a bad scene," he said. Falling upon his self aid and buddy care training, Sims went to work inspecting the crash for danger and tending to the drivers injuries. It all came naturally to him as he went through the motions of his Air Force training, Sims explained. "We, in the military, are trained to stay calm in hectic situations," Sims said. "I was moving quickly but it all seemed so slow due to my training." After giving aid to the truck driver Sims ran back up to the road to call 911 all the while flagging down a railway maintenance truck. Instructing the railway worker on the situation, Sims sent him below the bridge to keep the injured driver awake while giving emergency personnel directions to the scene. Within minutes Kinney County Sheriff, Texas State Patrol, medical personnel and an emergency medical helicopter arrived on scene. "After we secured the injured driver and loaded him on board the helicopter we all began joking that this was the fastest evacuation ever," Sims said. "All the pieces just fit together." Word of what he had done spread quickly through his squadron and on Oct. 10 Sims was recognized by Col. Tom Murphy, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, for his deed. "The quick and resolute decisions he made in a difficult situation saved a life and is a testament to the skill, training and character of our Air Force," said Murphy. It was a good way to end his time at Laughlin as he leaves for McChord Air Force Base, Wash., to fly the C-17 Globemaster III. "It was a cool way to close out my time at Laughlin," Sims said. "I'd rather have been recognized for just doing my job day-to-day because all of us would have helped the driver out." USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)